Francel Lea "Francie" Coleman

Francel Lea "Francie" Coleman, 93, of Oklahoma City passed away peacefully at her home on February 20, 2020. She was born October 10, 1926 in Oklahoma City to Virgil Chapin Durham and Florence Morell Durham. Francie attended Taft Jr. High (grades 7-9) and Ardmore High (10th), where she won several oratorical awards. After graduating from Classen High School in 1944, she attended the Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha and then the University of Oklahoma, where she graduated in 1948 with a degree in Medical Technology. She went on to pursue her career as a Lab Technician until starting her family. On Dec. 28, 1947, she and William O "Bill" Coleman, M.D. were married in Kansas City, MO. When Bill completed his medical internship and residency programs, they returned to Oklahoma City. Bill and Francie spent 61 years together in love, partnership, and devotion to each other. They shared a love of big-band and classical (especially Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, & Beethoven) music and enjoyed attending symphony orchestra concerts around the country. They also loved to travel and used the occasion of Bill's medical meetings to visit various cities, zoos, and museums across the U.S. as well as to make several European trips. Passing their love of the mountains on to their children, the Coleman family shared many good times together hiking and exploring numerous national parks and forests over the decades. Francie was active in the Oklahoma County Medical Society Alliance. When her children were young, she stayed busy with PTA, Campfire Girls, T-Ball and school outings. She was a lifelong member of the Congregational Church, having attended Pilgrim Congregational Church and later Mayflower Congregational Church. Francie was an exceptional seamstress. Staying up with the current fashions, she made many of her own as well as her daughter's clothes. She also created most of her daughter's intricate equestrian show clothes. Her talent for design extended into the gardens of her homes, where she excelled at creating beauty using Oklahoma proven trees and plants. Vapor trails, cruising antique malls, giraffes, Claude Monet, and treasured friends were among Francie's favorite things. She enjoyed history and loved visiting museums and historical societies well into her 90s. She stayed very mentally and physically active throughout her life. At age 92, she still loved doing Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles and did her own driving, shopping, house and yard work. Francie was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, her parents, and her sister Virginia Durham Monasch. She is survived by her children, Steven Paul of El Paso, TX, Elaine Denise of Edmond, and Martin Andrew of Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation or charity of choice.