Former Southampton resident Ruth Nolta Coons of Las Cruces, New Mexico, died on March 15 at La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces. She was 86.
Born on September 3, 1922, in Red Creek, she was the daughter of Estelle and Arthur Nolta. Growing up in East Syracuse, she discovered a passion for music and piano at a young age. Upon graduation from Potsdam State Teachers College and Crane School of Music, she devoted herself to her work as a music education teacher for more than 30 years.
She married Stanley Coons on October 30, 1949, and she and her family lived in Southampton for 10 years while she worked in Hampton Bays schools. In 1970, she moved to Deming, New Mexico. There she continued her dedication to teaching until retiring in 1986 to Las Cruces, New Mexico.
An active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Las Cruces, where she had many friends, she greatly enjoyed trips with her husband to Port Aransas, Texas, and tending to her strawberry gardens. According to family, she will be greatly missed and her memory will be forever cherished.
In addition to her husband of 59 years, Stanley Coons of Las Cruces, she is survived by two sons and their wives, John and Susan Coons of California, and Jeff and Jeanne Coons of Texas; a daughter, Caryl and her husband Jesus Trejo of Texas; two grandsons, Michael and Samuel Coons; and two granddaughters, Tessia Trejo Montañez and Anyssa Trejo. She was predeceased by her parents, two brothers and a sister.
A memorial service was held on March 19 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Las Cruces.
on Apr 6, 2009