Barbara Jessie Holm Coleman, was the beloved daughter of Barbara Worcester Holm and Alexander Lommel "Doc" Holm, and granddaughter of Gertrude Bernice Beede Worcester and Leonard Worcester, Jr. all of El Paso, Texas. She unexpectedly passed away December 23, 2020 after a remarkably healthy and long life.
Born in El Paso, Barbara aka "Barbarita" and "Mamacita" Coleman was the oldest of two daughters with a lifelong love of learning. She excelled in school graduating from White Elementary, El Paso High and earning a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin at Madison where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Magna Sum Laude. Maintaining her tie to Madison as a lifelong alum she wore her Badger sweatshirt with pride and joy.
She married Norman Gregg (N.G.) ("Ace") Coleman following World War II and began her own family life in Austin and Dallas. In college in Wisconsin she had become active in politics and studied national, international events, politics and history for the rest of her life. She proudly exercised and cherished her right to vote. Representing Dallas, she attended the Democratic National Convention in 1952 in Chicago as a delegate for Adlai Stevenson II.
In 1957 she returned with Ace to El Paso and the Upper Valley life. While raising her two children, Anne and Chico and supporting Ace in his fledgling engineering firm, she also attended the University of Texas at El Paso studying Southwestern Literature and working on a graduate degree.
Proud of her family heritage and "Yankee" ancestry she studied her family's roots and created an archive of materials of the family history. She cheerfully called her ancestors "a lively bunch!".
They migrated from England, Scotland, Nova Scotia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and eventually made it to the American West on the Trail of Tears with the Cherokee Indians and beyond to Colorado, Mexico, the West Coast and Alaska.
As a survivor of the Great Depression along the Texas Mexico Border and World War II her values and perspective were forever impacted by those years of sacrifice. She remained steadfastly patriotic, pragmatic, stoic, wise, fiercely independent, and often West Texas laconic.
Her many varied loves included music, art, history, food, family, children, animals, nature, archaeology, comedy, and voracious continual reading. An accomplished pianist she enjoyed all forms of music - choral, classical, opera, country, folk, blues, flamenco, and even some rock.
She loved nature and shared that joy eagerly and often. She maintained that one of the happiest times in her life was her summer volunteering and trekking in the mountains at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. As she aged she happily sat in her chair gazing outside watching the "wildlife drama" in her own yard.
She was predeceased by her parents, Barbara (1978) and "Doc" Holm (1971) , her sister Miriam Bernice Holm Paterson (1981), her former husband N.G. "Ace" Coleman (1999) , and her beloved son, Charles "Chico" Holm Coleman (2007).
Like many, she contracted Covid-19. But amazingly she recovered and proudly declared she was now an "Immune Covid Survivor". She attributed her vitality to her lucky upbringing in the Southwest where she was a beneficiary of a healthy happy rural life among the animals - horses, peacocks, doves, kitties, puppies, coyotes, owls, raccoons, etc. etc. etc. with a bountiful healthy diet and lifestyle in the Rio Grande Valley, Ruidoso, and Cloudcroft.
Her quick peaceful passing December 23 was a shock as she had declared she still felt great and was looking forward to her 94th birthday, living to be 100 ("like Olivia de Haviland"), and the immediate future of Christmas lights, music, some limited family togetherness, the inevitable end to the worldwide pandemic, and future trips to appreciate flowers, beauty, and art.
She is survived by her daughter Anne Worcester Coleman Rowe, her son-in-law William Christopher Rowe, her two grandchildren Jessica Worcester Rowe (Zak Harris) and William Travis Rowe (Brent Rodgers). She is also survived by her three nephews and one niece and their children.
The family is immensely grateful to the many who helped and cared for Barbara. They enhanced and extended her life. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to a non-profit conservation group which supports animals, birds, and preservation of habitat, nature, and biodiversity such as Operation Kindness, SPCA, Humane Society, Texas Humane Legislative Network, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, or Texas Land Conservancy.
Born in El Paso, Barbara aka "Barbarita" and "Mamacita" Coleman was the oldest of two daughters with a lifelong love of learning. She excelled in school graduating from White Elementary, El Paso High and earning a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin at Madison where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Magna Sum Laude. Maintaining her tie to Madison as a lifelong alum she wore her Badger sweatshirt with pride and joy.
She married Norman Gregg (N.G.) ("Ace") Coleman following World War II and began her own family life in Austin and Dallas. In college in Wisconsin she had become active in politics and studied national, international events, politics and history for the rest of her life. She proudly exercised and cherished her right to vote. Representing Dallas, she attended the Democratic National Convention in 1952 in Chicago as a delegate for Adlai Stevenson II.
In 1957 she returned with Ace to El Paso and the Upper Valley life. While raising her two children, Anne and Chico and supporting Ace in his fledgling engineering firm, she also attended the University of Texas at El Paso studying Southwestern Literature and working on a graduate degree.
Proud of her family heritage and "Yankee" ancestry she studied her family's roots and created an archive of materials of the family history. She cheerfully called her ancestors "a lively bunch!".
They migrated from England, Scotland, Nova Scotia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and eventually made it to the American West on the Trail of Tears with the Cherokee Indians and beyond to Colorado, Mexico, the West Coast and Alaska.
As a survivor of the Great Depression along the Texas Mexico Border and World War II her values and perspective were forever impacted by those years of sacrifice. She remained steadfastly patriotic, pragmatic, stoic, wise, fiercely independent, and often West Texas laconic.
Her many varied loves included music, art, history, food, family, children, animals, nature, archaeology, comedy, and voracious continual reading. An accomplished pianist she enjoyed all forms of music - choral, classical, opera, country, folk, blues, flamenco, and even some rock.
She loved nature and shared that joy eagerly and often. She maintained that one of the happiest times in her life was her summer volunteering and trekking in the mountains at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. As she aged she happily sat in her chair gazing outside watching the "wildlife drama" in her own yard.
She was predeceased by her parents, Barbara (1978) and "Doc" Holm (1971) , her sister Miriam Bernice Holm Paterson (1981), her former husband N.G. "Ace" Coleman (1999) , and her beloved son, Charles "Chico" Holm Coleman (2007).
Like many, she contracted Covid-19. But amazingly she recovered and proudly declared she was now an "Immune Covid Survivor". She attributed her vitality to her lucky upbringing in the Southwest where she was a beneficiary of a healthy happy rural life among the animals - horses, peacocks, doves, kitties, puppies, coyotes, owls, raccoons, etc. etc. etc. with a bountiful healthy diet and lifestyle in the Rio Grande Valley, Ruidoso, and Cloudcroft.
Her quick peaceful passing December 23 was a shock as she had declared she still felt great and was looking forward to her 94th birthday, living to be 100 ("like Olivia de Haviland"), and the immediate future of Christmas lights, music, some limited family togetherness, the inevitable end to the worldwide pandemic, and future trips to appreciate flowers, beauty, and art.
She is survived by her daughter Anne Worcester Coleman Rowe, her son-in-law William Christopher Rowe, her two grandchildren Jessica Worcester Rowe (Zak Harris) and William Travis Rowe (Brent Rodgers). She is also survived by her three nephews and one niece and their children.
The family is immensely grateful to the many who helped and cared for Barbara. They enhanced and extended her life. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to a non-profit conservation group which supports animals, birds, and preservation of habitat, nature, and biodiversity such as Operation Kindness, SPCA, Humane Society, Texas Humane Legislative Network, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, or Texas Land Conservancy.
Barbara Jessie Holm Coleman, was the beloved daughter of Barbara Worcester Holm and Alexander Lommel "Doc" Holm, and granddaughter of Gertrude Bernice Beede Worcester and Leonard Worcester, Jr. all of El Paso, Texas. She unexpectedly passed away December 23, 2020 after a remarkably healthy and long life.
Born in El Paso, Barbara aka "Barbarita" and "Mamacita" Coleman was the oldest of two daughters with a lifelong love of learning. She excelled in school graduating from White Elementary, El Paso High and earning a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin at Madison where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Magna Sum Laude. Maintaining her tie to Madison as a lifelong alum she wore her Badger sweatshirt with pride and joy.
She married Norman Gregg (N.G.) ("Ace") Coleman following World War II and began her own family life in Austin and Dallas. In college in Wisconsin she had become active in politics and studied national, international events, politics and history for the rest of her life. She proudly exercised and cherished her right to vote. Representing Dallas, she attended the Democratic National Convention in 1952 in Chicago as a delegate for Adlai Stevenson II.
In 1957 she returned with Ace to El Paso and the Upper Valley life. While raising her two children, Anne and Chico and supporting Ace in his fledgling engineering firm, she also attended the University of Texas at El Paso studying Southwestern Literature and working on a graduate degree.
Proud of her family heritage and "Yankee" ancestry she studied her family's roots and created an archive of materials of the family history. She cheerfully called her ancestors "a lively bunch!".
They migrated from England, Scotland, Nova Scotia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and eventually made it to the American West on the Trail of Tears with the Cherokee Indians and beyond to Colorado, Mexico, the West Coast and Alaska.
As a survivor of the Great Depression along the Texas Mexico Border and World War II her values and perspective were forever impacted by those years of sacrifice. She remained steadfastly patriotic, pragmatic, stoic, wise, fiercely independent, and often West Texas laconic.
Her many varied loves included music, art, history, food, family, children, animals, nature, archaeology, comedy, and voracious continual reading. An accomplished pianist she enjoyed all forms of music - choral, classical, opera, country, folk, blues, flamenco, and even some rock.
She loved nature and shared that joy eagerly and often. She maintained that one of the happiest times in her life was her summer volunteering and trekking in the mountains at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. As she aged she happily sat in her chair gazing outside watching the "wildlife drama" in her own yard.
She was predeceased by her parents, Barbara (1978) and "Doc" Holm (1971) , her sister Miriam Bernice Holm Paterson (1981), her former husband N.G. "Ace" Coleman (1999) , and her beloved son, Charles "Chico" Holm Coleman (2007).
Like many, she contracted Covid-19. But amazingly she recovered and proudly declared she was now an "Immune Covid Survivor". She attributed her vitality to her lucky upbringing in the Southwest where she was a beneficiary of a healthy happy rural life among the animals - horses, peacocks, doves, kitties, puppies, coyotes, owls, raccoons, etc. etc. etc. with a bountiful healthy diet and lifestyle in the Rio Grande Valley, Ruidoso, and Cloudcroft.
Her quick peaceful passing December 23 was a shock as she had declared she still felt great and was looking forward to her 94th birthday, living to be 100 ("like Olivia de Haviland"), and the immediate future of Christmas lights, music, some limited family togetherness, the inevitable end to the worldwide pandemic, and future trips to appreciate flowers, beauty, and art.
She is survived by her daughter Anne Worcester Coleman Rowe, her son-in-law William Christopher Rowe, her two grandchildren Jessica Worcester Rowe (Zak Harris) and William Travis Rowe (Brent Rodgers). She is also survived by her three nephews and one niece and their children.
The family is immensely grateful to the many who helped and cared for Barbara. They enhanced and extended her life. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to a non-profit conservation group which supports animals, birds, and preservation of habitat, nature, and biodiversity such as Operation Kindness, SPCA, Humane Society, Texas Humane Legislative Network, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, or Texas Land Conservancy.
Born in El Paso, Barbara aka "Barbarita" and "Mamacita" Coleman was the oldest of two daughters with a lifelong love of learning. She excelled in school graduating from White Elementary, El Paso High and earning a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin at Madison where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Magna Sum Laude. Maintaining her tie to Madison as a lifelong alum she wore her Badger sweatshirt with pride and joy.
She married Norman Gregg (N.G.) ("Ace") Coleman following World War II and began her own family life in Austin and Dallas. In college in Wisconsin she had become active in politics and studied national, international events, politics and history for the rest of her life. She proudly exercised and cherished her right to vote. Representing Dallas, she attended the Democratic National Convention in 1952 in Chicago as a delegate for Adlai Stevenson II.
In 1957 she returned with Ace to El Paso and the Upper Valley life. While raising her two children, Anne and Chico and supporting Ace in his fledgling engineering firm, she also attended the University of Texas at El Paso studying Southwestern Literature and working on a graduate degree.
Proud of her family heritage and "Yankee" ancestry she studied her family's roots and created an archive of materials of the family history. She cheerfully called her ancestors "a lively bunch!".
They migrated from England, Scotland, Nova Scotia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and eventually made it to the American West on the Trail of Tears with the Cherokee Indians and beyond to Colorado, Mexico, the West Coast and Alaska.
As a survivor of the Great Depression along the Texas Mexico Border and World War II her values and perspective were forever impacted by those years of sacrifice. She remained steadfastly patriotic, pragmatic, stoic, wise, fiercely independent, and often West Texas laconic.
Her many varied loves included music, art, history, food, family, children, animals, nature, archaeology, comedy, and voracious continual reading. An accomplished pianist she enjoyed all forms of music - choral, classical, opera, country, folk, blues, flamenco, and even some rock.
She loved nature and shared that joy eagerly and often. She maintained that one of the happiest times in her life was her summer volunteering and trekking in the mountains at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. As she aged she happily sat in her chair gazing outside watching the "wildlife drama" in her own yard.
She was predeceased by her parents, Barbara (1978) and "Doc" Holm (1971) , her sister Miriam Bernice Holm Paterson (1981), her former husband N.G. "Ace" Coleman (1999) , and her beloved son, Charles "Chico" Holm Coleman (2007).
Like many, she contracted Covid-19. But amazingly she recovered and proudly declared she was now an "Immune Covid Survivor". She attributed her vitality to her lucky upbringing in the Southwest where she was a beneficiary of a healthy happy rural life among the animals - horses, peacocks, doves, kitties, puppies, coyotes, owls, raccoons, etc. etc. etc. with a bountiful healthy diet and lifestyle in the Rio Grande Valley, Ruidoso, and Cloudcroft.
Her quick peaceful passing December 23 was a shock as she had declared she still felt great and was looking forward to her 94th birthday, living to be 100 ("like Olivia de Haviland"), and the immediate future of Christmas lights, music, some limited family togetherness, the inevitable end to the worldwide pandemic, and future trips to appreciate flowers, beauty, and art.
She is survived by her daughter Anne Worcester Coleman Rowe, her son-in-law William Christopher Rowe, her two grandchildren Jessica Worcester Rowe (Zak Harris) and William Travis Rowe (Brent Rodgers). She is also survived by her three nephews and one niece and their children.
The family is immensely grateful to the many who helped and cared for Barbara. They enhanced and extended her life. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to a non-profit conservation group which supports animals, birds, and preservation of habitat, nature, and biodiversity such as Operation Kindness, SPCA, Humane Society, Texas Humane Legislative Network, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, or Texas Land Conservancy.
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