Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Coe, George H. Sr. October 7, 1958 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net August 21, 2021, 1:45 pm Ionia Sentinel standard-Tues. October 7, 1958 Geo. H. Coe Dies Here Tuesday George H. Coe, Sr., 84, lifetime Ionia county resident and retired automobile dealer and agriculturalist died at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the Ionia County Memorial hospital. Mr. Coe had been confined to the hospital for the past nine weeks although he had shown improvement until the last few days. He had been in the hospital twice before during his six months illness but improved enough to be removed to his home. An automobile dealer in Ionia since 1916 until his retirement 11 years ago. Mr. Coe had been active in many civic enterprises and organizations and was a former Ionia County Alderman and common council president. He was chairman of the board of the First Security bank of Ionia and had for years served the bank as a director and as the president. A charter member of the Ionia Rotary club he was a past president and in later years a senior active member. During the presidency of Howard C. Lawrence. Mr Coe became a director of the Ionia Free Fair Association and in 1957 was named president, a position he still held at the time of his death. He was a life member of the Ionia Elks and a former Ionia County club member. In farming circles Mr Coe was a Farm Bureau member, active in 4-H club organizations and a chief sponsor of the Ionia Fat Stock Show. He also had served as vice president of the Michigan Aberdeen-Angus association and was at one time as alternate delegate to the National organization's Chicago convention. At the time of his death he was a trustee and elder of the First Presbyterian church of Ionia and while a member of the former Church of Christ served that church as a trustee. Surviving are his wife, Mabel; two sons, George H. Coe. Jr., and Orson E. Coe. both of Ionia; his daughter, Mrs J. Dall Hutchinson of Dearborn two sisters, Mrs Rex Sible Lansing and Mrs Glenn Sible of Ionia; four grandchildren, Connie, Brenda, and Orson Coe, of Ionia and Mrs Marilyn Hunting of Grand Rapids; and two great-grandchildren. Cathy and Mary Ann Hunting of Grand Rapids. A memorial is being established by the Coe family for the Dr. F. M. March Guild of the Ionia County Memorial Hospital. Funeral service will be conducted from the First Presbyterian church Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Arrangements are being made by the Boynton Funeral Home. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Mr Coe was born August 30, 1874, on a farm in Berlin township, the son of Mr and Mrs W.F. Coe. He was raised to early manhood on the farm which came to the family from the federal government. His two sisters Ethel and Pearl also were reared on the farm. The sisters married brothers and Mrs Pearl Sible now lives on the original Coe farm. Mrs Ethel Sible lives in Lansing. Mr Coe's early education came through attendance at the Eddy district school in Berlin township and entered the Ionia public school system in the B-6 grade. He was only 11 years of age and roomed in Ionia during the school week returning home to help on the farm weekends. Following his high school graduation he attended Pouchers Business college in Ionia. He returned to the farm and became engaged in the livestock business. His business grew and he expanded entering into a contract with the state to butcher cattle for the Michigan state Reformatory and Ionia State Hospital. Each week mr Coe prepared 12 to 16 head of cattle for the institutions. In addition he began to buy horses and his first horse buying was for Lathrop, Hubble and Stout of Pontiac. Mr Coe was married May 10, 1898 to Mabel Christian of Easton township. About 1916 Mr Coe bought an automobile which inaugurated his entry into the automobile sales field in which he remained for many years becoming one of the best known automotive dealers in Michigan. In 1917 he came to Ionia to actively open an automobile business and he continued for 27 years. He became associated with the late Norman J. Ogilvie selling four makes of cars. The relationship continued for 1 1/2 years when Mr Coe entered the automobile business for himself. He represented many manufacturers in the Ionia area and probably was best know for his Nash and Oldsmobile agencies. During his active participation in automobile sales he continued to improve and expand his facilities until his retirement. His two sons George H. Coe. Jr., and Orson E. Coe became associated with him and each has since established their own businesses. He never gave up his interest in agriculture and maintained his farm interests. He became interested in raising Aberdeen Angus through his association with the late Alex Minty and his cattle have won many show honors over the many years of farm activity. His cattle wan upwards of 200 ribbons and trophies. He took some interest in politics and was a life-long Republican. He served Ionia city for eight years as an Alderman beginning in 1924 in the fourth ward. Mr. and Mrs Coe observed their 60th wedding anniversary at their 212 East Washing street home Saturday, May 10, 1958 at a quiet family affair because of Mr Coe's ill health. Additional Comments: File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/c/coe40776nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 5.7 Kb