Lucy Coates Moise
LEXINGTON - Soon after midnight on her mother’s birthday, November 10th, Lucy Huger Coates Moise reunited with her beloved husband, Larry, in heaven. Joining in her joyful reunion were Lucy’s loving parents, Lt. Col. Harry Luther and Elizabeth Huger Coates, Lucy’s beloved grandparents, Poppie (Benjamin Huger) and Nana (Lucy Scott Shipp Huger), in addition to many special aunts, uncles and cousins, and a bounty of loving friends, so eager to greet Lucy again. Left to celebrate Lucy’s loving memory on earth include her three beloved children, Lee Moise (Tammy), Lucy “Scotty” Moise and Elizabeth “Liz” LaSorte (Lou), her beloved sister and brother-in-law, Julia Harleston Coates Littlefield & Maurice “Mo” E. Littlefield, her beloved grandchildren, Alex (Monica) LaSorte & Lucy LaSorte; Ashlea Potter, Katie, Khrista and Lance Moise & Kelly Wiles (Nikki) and their child Westlyn, nieces, nephews, cousins and too many friends who thank God that Lucy blessed their lives with her pure, unconditional Love.
As a devoted Episcopalian, Lucy served with joy in the Altar Guild and the Episcopal Church Women, donated and served countless meals at Emmanuel Dining Hall, served as a lay reader, and she shared her creativity in countless other duties and activities at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Newark Delaware, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kinston, NC; and Grace Episcopal Church in Lexington, VA. Lucy was baptized, confirmed and married the love of her life, Lawrence L. Moise, II, at Grace Episcopal Church.
Lucy was born on April 23, 1934, in Spokane, Washington, and lived in Maine, Hawaii, and Michigan, before her father retired from his career in the Army. He moved his family first to San Antonio, Texas, and in 1947 to Lexington, Virginia, where he established a music store on Washington Street. When the family was pondering what to call their business selling not only records but musical instruments, Lucy asked, ‘How about naming it the Music Box?’ and her father agreed.
Lucy enjoyed stories her mother shared with her about her great-grandfather, Scott Shipp, who served as Commandant of Cadets at VMI beginning in 1861, who ‘led the VMI boys to the battle of New Market’ in the Civil War and served as Superintendent of VMI from 1890 to 1906.
Lucy was a talented and gifted artist. She adorned all the artwork throughout the yearbook of the Class of ‘52 at Lexington High School. In her words, “As a young child, I enjoyed drawing and pursued this great desire as best I could, until I attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, VA. In Kinston, NC, I renewed my art involvement at the Kinston Arts Alliance, receiving an honorable mention in the local art show. Moving to Delaware, I had the opportunity to broaden my artwork at the Newark Arts Alliance with local instructors, E. Jean Lanyon, Bonnie Von Duyke, Tzw-wen Kwok, Marty Kniffen, Wyn Breslin and Carolyn Anderson. Over the years, I have exhibited in juried shows and have had solo exhibits and won some awards. As a member of the Howard Pyle Studio, I enjoyed the honor and opportunity and am grateful for the learning experience in broadening my skill. In December 2011, as a group, the Howard Pyle Studio displayed one painting from each member in the Outlooks Gallery at the Delaware Art Museum. This was in tribute to the 100th year celebration of Howard Pyle’s death, in honoring his life and paintings.” Lucy loved watercolors and truly mastered her art with too many paintings to name, and enjoyed painting the Howard Pyle studio itself, where she thrived as an artist.
Lucy’s magnificent watercolor paintings adorned many homes, but art was only one of Lucy’s many talents using her insurmountable creativity. She was a fantastic cook, hostess, seamstress who hand-embroidered and smocked her grandchildren’s clothes and christening gown, and basket weaver, but always enjoyed a good game of bridge! Lucy also loved gardening and had an amazing green thumb growing flowers, vegetables or raspberries. She spent many summers canning tomatoes or freezing green beans and okra.
Lucy shared her love of reading where she worked as a Library Aide and Reading Tutor at Lewis Elementary school in Kinston, NC for three years, encouraging children who were less fortunate to learn to read. For decades, Lucy enjoyed many years volunteering for the Blood Bank of Delaware. Lucy enjoyed her membership and service at the New Century Club in Newark, Delaware, where she shared her endless creativity with numerous fundraisers to help the community including Emmaus House, providing shelter for women in need.
Lucy’s selfless Love allowed her light to shine eternally and everyone fortunate enough to know Lucy was touched by her kindness that knew no bounds. She was always thinking of others and could not wait to give someone a gift. She was the true embodiment of Love and Light and fully met St. Paul’s definition of Love: Patient, Kind, Never Envied, Never Boasted, Was not Proud, Never Dishonored Others, Selfless, Slow to Anger, Keeping no Record of Wrongs, Never Delighting with Evil, Always Trusting, Always Hopeful and Always Persevering the many challenges that Life presents. Lucy was the Shining Light in numerous Lives and attracted friends from all corners of the Earth. The world lost an angel on November 10, 2023.
Lucy Loved God, Family and Country and served all three with devotion and passion. Lucy served as a passionate patriot in the John Birch Society for many decades.
Lucy will be buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Lexington, VA on Saturday, December 9th at 1:00 p.m., followed by a service at Grace Episcopal Church in Lexington, VA at 2:00 p.m. and a reception to celebrate Lucy’s amazing grace will follow the service in the Parish Hall.