Grace was born in Flint, Michigan. She was born, Grace Edna Coates on March 22, 1929, the second oldest of 4 children. She had 2 brothers and 1 sister. Her parents were the late Edwin Coates and Grace Lee Zell (Sullivan) Coates. Grace lived in and out of Flint over the years. Her father would buy and sell properties, especially those where he lived. She had 2 brothers and 1 sister. One brother, Francis, died in 1934 at age 6 because of scarlet fever. She finished high school at Flint Central in 1946.
She met her future husband on a farm near Lennon, Michigan when the family lived on Duffield Road. Her boyfriend lived to the North on the next farm which was 100 acres.
Grace got married in April of 1947. The guests and family went back to the house after the wedding to 4071 Duffield Road for the wedding reception. Going into the house the family found that the cat had taken a bite out of the wedding cake. The cake was repaired and the reception continued. Subsequently the couple had 6 boys and 4 girls. She inspired her children to further their education.
She moved from a small house (no electricity or running water) located on the corner of Bristol Road and M-13, one lot to the East on the South side of Bristol Road, near Lennon, Michigan in the summer of 1953 to a farm at 7648 E. M-21 Corunna, Michigan and resided there until 1971. For many years while living out in the country, she drove her children to St Joseph Catholic Parish and sent them to the parochial school in Owosso, Michigan.
The family bought a new white, with blue interior, 1959 Edsel station wagon in Flint, Michigan. Edsel built 2,133 of the nine-passenger wagons in 1959. Its wheelbase measured 118-inches, had an overall length of 210.1 inches, and rested on 8.00 x 14 four-ply tires. The nine-passenger station wagon listed for $3,055. The family drove the new Edsel to see her father (worked at GM Wilmington, Delaware Assembly) and mother. While driving through Pennsylvania during Christmas of 1959 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the right front axle froze on the new car and had to be replaced.
She had an antique business for a number of years at her Corunna farm. The talents displayed were many.
In early Agust of 1967, the family took a recreational vehicle trailer using a Dodge van, and traveled to Montreal, Canada for Expo 67. The trip covered about 1200 miles. The 1967 International and Universal Exposition, commonly known as Expo 67, was a general exhibition from April 28 to October 27, 1967.
Three of her sons went into the Army during the Vietnam era, 2 serving in the Republic of Vietnam. One served as helicopter Crew Chief (JOHN '68) and one as a Cobra helicopter pilot (DAN '70). One son (DAVID '75) served as an Army Ranger. Another daughter, KATHY, finished school at Western Michigan University.
Later she moved to Gainesville, Florida to be near her daughter, Karen. Grace attended the University of Florida, and in her latter years, earned a bachelor's degree in finance. She went to work at the University of Florida as manager of the Finance Department, paying the University bills.
Upon retirement from the University, she retired to Port Charlotte, Florida. Grace traveled extensively throughout the North American continent. She particularly liked visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
During the summer of 1997, she traveled 10,000 miles with her son John. They visited the Badlands and were in Sturgis for the motorcycle rally. They traveled across the west. They visited Yellowstone Park, Glacier National Park, Washington State and the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are a mountain range in the northwestern United States, located largely in northeastern Oregon and stretching into extreme southeastern Washington. The range has an area of about 15,000 square miles. Their favorite stop was eating the sweet fried onions at Walla Walla. Visiting the wagon ruts of the Oregon trail was fascinating. They visited many historical places like the Whitman Mission National Historical site.
John took Grace on another trip across the east where they visited Gettysburg during the period of July 1 through July 4. At Gettysburg they viewed old photographs taken by Civil War photographers and visited those sites. Grace and her son, John camped with each using a separate tent. On the second night, a high wind storm blew up and took out Grace's tent. Grace went over to the shower room and rode out the storm.
Grace made a point to exercise 3 times a week at a gym. She liked doing garden work in her backyard. Her hobbies were many including such activities as sewing, reading, painting, and she liked the original NCIS TV program.
She died of heart complications under hospice care at home, Her daughter, Karol, was at her side and refused to allow family members to be present or attend her funeral. Grace was cremated and her ashes were scattered at her request, but the location is known only to the daughter Karol.
Grace E. Coates
in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records
Name: Grace E. Coates
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 18
Birth Date: abt 1929
Birth Place: Flint, Michigan
Marriage License Place: Genesee
Marriage Date: 19 Apr 1947
Marriage Place: Durand, Shiawassee, Michigan, USA
Residence Place: Genesee County, Michigan
Father: Edwin Coates
Mother: Grace Sullivan
Spouse: Clayton J Brunger
County File Number: 51501
State File Number: 25 41140
Published by Gainesville Sun from Jul. 7 to Jul. 8, 2016.
Grace Coates Brunger passed away at home on June 12, 2016. She was 87 years old. Grace was born in Flint, Michigan to Edwin and Grace Coates. She met and married John Clayton Brunger where they moved to Corunna, Michigan and lived on a farm. She became an Antique Dealer for many years and had several stores. She moved to Gainesville, Florida, where she worked at the University of Florida and proudly earned a Bachelor Degree in Finance. After retirement she moved to Port Charlotte, Florida. She is survived by her brother Richard Coates, of Texas, and sister Theresa Coates Maloney of Florida, her children, John Brunger of Texas, Daniel Brunger of Florida, Kathy Matsumoto of Nevada, Karen Gras of Alaska, David Brunger of Michigan, and James Brunger of Florida, many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Celebration of Life will be announced by her family at later date. Cards of condolences may be sent to Karol Brunger, 1053 Yarmouth St. Port Charlotte, FL 33952.
Not Mentioned were daughter Kelli Brunger and son Jeff Brunger.
Grace was born in Flint, Michigan. She was born, Grace Edna Coates on March 22, 1929, the second oldest of 4 children. She had 2 brothers and 1 sister. Her parents were the late Edwin Coates and Grace Lee Zell (Sullivan) Coates. Grace lived in and out of Flint over the years. Her father would buy and sell properties, especially those where he lived. She had 2 brothers and 1 sister. One brother, Francis, died in 1934 at age 6 because of scarlet fever. She finished high school at Flint Central in 1946.
She met her future husband on a farm near Lennon, Michigan when the family lived on Duffield Road. Her boyfriend lived to the North on the next farm which was 100 acres.
Grace got married in April of 1947. The guests and family went back to the house after the wedding to 4071 Duffield Road for the wedding reception. Going into the house the family found that the cat had taken a bite out of the wedding cake. The cake was repaired and the reception continued. Subsequently the couple had 6 boys and 4 girls. She inspired her children to further their education.
She moved from a small house (no electricity or running water) located on the corner of Bristol Road and M-13, one lot to the East on the South side of Bristol Road, near Lennon, Michigan in the summer of 1953 to a farm at 7648 E. M-21 Corunna, Michigan and resided there until 1971. For many years while living out in the country, she drove her children to St Joseph Catholic Parish and sent them to the parochial school in Owosso, Michigan.
The family bought a new white, with blue interior, 1959 Edsel station wagon in Flint, Michigan. Edsel built 2,133 of the nine-passenger wagons in 1959. Its wheelbase measured 118-inches, had an overall length of 210.1 inches, and rested on 8.00 x 14 four-ply tires. The nine-passenger station wagon listed for $3,055. The family drove the new Edsel to see her father (worked at GM Wilmington, Delaware Assembly) and mother. While driving through Pennsylvania during Christmas of 1959 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the right front axle froze on the new car and had to be replaced.
She had an antique business for a number of years at her Corunna farm. The talents displayed were many.
In early Agust of 1967, the family took a recreational vehicle trailer using a Dodge van, and traveled to Montreal, Canada for Expo 67. The trip covered about 1200 miles. The 1967 International and Universal Exposition, commonly known as Expo 67, was a general exhibition from April 28 to October 27, 1967.
Three of her sons went into the Army during the Vietnam era, 2 serving in the Republic of Vietnam. One served as helicopter Crew Chief (JOHN '68) and one as a Cobra helicopter pilot (DAN '70). One son (DAVID '75) served as an Army Ranger. Another daughter, KATHY, finished school at Western Michigan University.
Later she moved to Gainesville, Florida to be near her daughter, Karen. Grace attended the University of Florida, and in her latter years, earned a bachelor's degree in finance. She went to work at the University of Florida as manager of the Finance Department, paying the University bills.
Upon retirement from the University, she retired to Port Charlotte, Florida. Grace traveled extensively throughout the North American continent. She particularly liked visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
During the summer of 1997, she traveled 10,000 miles with her son John. They visited the Badlands and were in Sturgis for the motorcycle rally. They traveled across the west. They visited Yellowstone Park, Glacier National Park, Washington State and the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are a mountain range in the northwestern United States, located largely in northeastern Oregon and stretching into extreme southeastern Washington. The range has an area of about 15,000 square miles. Their favorite stop was eating the sweet fried onions at Walla Walla. Visiting the wagon ruts of the Oregon trail was fascinating. They visited many historical places like the Whitman Mission National Historical site.
John took Grace on another trip across the east where they visited Gettysburg during the period of July 1 through July 4. At Gettysburg they viewed old photographs taken by Civil War photographers and visited those sites. Grace and her son, John camped with each using a separate tent. On the second night, a high wind storm blew up and took out Grace's tent. Grace went over to the shower room and rode out the storm.
Grace made a point to exercise 3 times a week at a gym. She liked doing garden work in her backyard. Her hobbies were many including such activities as sewing, reading, painting, and she liked the original NCIS TV program.
She died of heart complications under hospice care at home, Her daughter, Karol, was at her side and refused to allow family members to be present or attend her funeral. Grace was cremated and her ashes were scattered at her request, but the location is known only to the daughter Karol.
Grace E. Coates
in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records
Name: Grace E. Coates
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 18
Birth Date: abt 1929
Birth Place: Flint, Michigan
Marriage License Place: Genesee
Marriage Date: 19 Apr 1947
Marriage Place: Durand, Shiawassee, Michigan, USA
Residence Place: Genesee County, Michigan
Father: Edwin Coates
Mother: Grace Sullivan
Spouse: Clayton J Brunger
County File Number: 51501
State File Number: 25 41140
Published by Gainesville Sun from Jul. 7 to Jul. 8, 2016.
Grace Coates Brunger passed away at home on June 12, 2016. She was 87 years old. Grace was born in Flint, Michigan to Edwin and Grace Coates. She met and married John Clayton Brunger where they moved to Corunna, Michigan and lived on a farm. She became an Antique Dealer for many years and had several stores. She moved to Gainesville, Florida, where she worked at the University of Florida and proudly earned a Bachelor Degree in Finance. After retirement she moved to Port Charlotte, Florida. She is survived by her brother Richard Coates, of Texas, and sister Theresa Coates Maloney of Florida, her children, John Brunger of Texas, Daniel Brunger of Florida, Kathy Matsumoto of Nevada, Karen Gras of Alaska, David Brunger of Michigan, and James Brunger of Florida, many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Celebration of Life will be announced by her family at later date. Cards of condolences may be sent to Karol Brunger, 1053 Yarmouth St. Port Charlotte, FL 33952.
Not Mentioned were daughter Kelli Brunger and son Jeff Brunger.
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