Marilyn Lorraine (Nanry) Coughlin's Obituary
Marilyn Lorraine (Nanry) Coughlin passed away on January 9, 2017 at her daughter Kathleen’s home in Fort Myers, Florida where she had been in Hospice since 12/31/16. Marilyn was a larger than life figure to her family and many friends who lived a long and WONDERFUL life as a permanent resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan and a member of the Roman Catholic Church.Marilyn Nanry was born November 25, 1927 in Ann Arbor, the daughter of John Edmund Nanry and Agnes (McCluskey) Nanry, both of whom preceded her in death. Marilyn was the second of four children: Donald, Joyce and Beverly. Marilyn was a fifth generation Washtenaw County resident.As a young woman, Marilyn worked in the University of Michigan Athletic Department under Fritz Crisler. Marilyn became the first female University of Michigan football season ticket holder when Crisler asked her to draw up a seating chart for section 23 – she wrote her own name in on two seats which remain in the family’s possession today.Marilyn began her education at St. Thomas High School and graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, Michigan in 1945 and earned a BS degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1949. She then enrolled in Master’s speech classes at the University of Michigan in 1951 and taught English courses at Chelsea High School where she founded the debate team that same year. Formal education was extremely important to the Nanry and McCluskey families. All of Marilyn’s aunts on her mother’s side graduated with college and or post-graduate degrees.Marilyn met the one and only love of her life William A. Coughlin, Jr. (Bill) (1922-2001) when he was enrolled at the University of Michigan Law School. Bill graduated in 1950 and they married on August 16, 1952 at a ceremony in Ann Arbor.Three children followed in rapid succession, William A. Coughlin, III (Bill, 1953), Kathleen M. (1954), and Daniel J. (1955). The family attended St. Francis Church where all three children attended grade school. A fourth child, John C. (Chuck, 1962), was born seven years later completing the Coughlin family.Marilyn was a devoted and disciplined mother who ensured daily order in the household and dinner on the table every weekday night. Marilyn and Bill made their children’s academics and sports a family priority. All four children graduated from college; William (Indiana University, 1975), Kathleen (University of Michigan, 1976), Daniel (Miami of Ohio, 1977) and Chuck (Denison University, 1984).Marilyn and Bill joined Barton Hills Country Club in the early 1950’s and enjoyed a large circle of friends who played golf, cards and socialized together. Those bonds of friendship could be annually seen during the Men’s Invitational where Marilyn and her friends would operate the betting tables during the annual Men’s Derby event. Marilyn became a life master bridge player and renowned raconteur who was known to enjoy a good Manhattan, a great story, and many, many laughs.She is survived by all her children, Bill, Kathleen, Dan (Joanne), Chuck (Patricia); six grandchildren, Courtney (Dustin), Smith, Collin (Kristen) Coughlin, Elizabeth (Shane) Burner, Caroline (Michael) Lukich and Max Bruner. One of her last meals was at her favorite restaurant (Knight’s Westside) where she enjoyed a dinner with four of those grandchildren, and her great grandson Max.Her spirit, drive, and thirst for life will be missed, but it lives on in all those that were fortunate to have known and to be loved by her. Marilyn, when asked how she was, would invariably say, “Won-Der-Ful”. Today, we are confident, as she is reunited with her husband, family and friends that she is truly Wonderful.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908 or to http://www.hov.org/donate.Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33907, 239-936-0555. Online condolences may be offered at: www.fortmyersmemorial.com.
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