Margaret Bott Coleman

Coleman, Margaret obit(October 31, 1943 – April 16, 2015)

Margaret Bott Coleman, 71, passed away Thursday, April 16, 2015.  She was born October 31, 1943, in Brigham City, Utah, as the third of eight children of Eugene and Norma (Tingey) Bott. During Margaret’s younger years, her parents operated a family farm at Perry and Honeyville, Utah. Margaret graduated in 1961 from Box Elder High School in Brigham City, Utah.

In the fall of 1961, Margaret attended Brigham Young University as one of the initial participants in the Academic Honors Program. She later transferred to Utah State University.

In 1963 Margaret was awarded the prestigious Robins Award for Achievement at USU. She was a member of the University Student Senate as the Independent Senator representing all students who were not affiliated with one of the campus Greek fraternities or sororities, she chaired many campus committees, and she was a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

While at Utah State, Margaret met James Orin Coleman, of Hurricane, Utah, after he returned home from an LDS Mission in New England.  Their romance blossomed while they were both members of the Delta Phi Kappa Chorus at the LDS Institute of Religion.  They were married December 17, 1964, in the Logan Utah LDS Temple.

Margaret graduated in June 1965 with the Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education; she had minors in English, German, speech and drama.  Following Margaret’s graduation, she and Jim moved to Peabody, Massachusetts, where she began her career as a teacher in nearby Melrose.  The couple returned to Utah in 1966 where she continued teaching.

Margaret and Jim also lived in Salt Lake City, Bountiful, Providence and Smithfield, Utah; Idaho Falls and Ammon, Idaho; and Cleveland, Ohio.  In 1984, they moved to St. George, Utah.

Margaret has served most of her adult life with young people. After moving to St. George, she taught sixth grade and often substituted at Dixie High School. Among her many callings and service opportunities in the LDS Church, she was Stake Young Women President and Advisor for Lambda Delta Sigma at Dixie College Institute of Religion.  She spent over four decades counseling and training young men and young woman in poise, character and personality development, self-esteem and self-motivation.  Above all, she has been their friend.

When asked once about her activities, Margaret said her greatest claim to fame is being her husband’s wife and her children’s mother.  She is survived by her husband, three children and their spouses, Julie and Alan Theurer of Redmond, Washington; Bob and Stephanie Coleman of St. George, Utah; and Dean and Kristin Coleman of Leesburg, Virginia.  She is also survived by eight grandchildren and her seven siblings.

Funeral Services

  • Funeral services will be Thursday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at the St. George LDS Stake Center, 500 North Bluff Street, St. George.
  • A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 22, 6-8 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, or Thursday, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Stake Center prior to services.
  • Interment will take place in the Tonaquint Cemetery.

Arrangements have been made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 435-673-2454.

The Coleman family wishes to convey their deepest appreciation for the love, service, and support of their family and friends, and invite them to sign Margaret’s guest book at the Spilsbury Mortuary website.

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