Julia Frances Coulter

Published 10:55 am Thursday, November 21, 2013

Aug 1943 – Oct 2013

A native and lifelong resident of Bend, Julia Frances Coulter joined her heavenly father Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. She passed away peacefully at her home in the arms of her children.

She celebrated her 88th birthday on Aug. 17, surrounded by friends and family at the home where she lived the past 54 years.

Julia was born in 1925 to Hattie (Brown) Steppe and Frank Henderson. She attended Reid and Kenwood schools and graduated from Bend High School in 1943. During the war years, she joined her mother and brother Gerald at Shumates and Shevlin-Hixon mills making wooden ammunition boxes to support the war effort. She married Army veteran Ted (Theodore) William Coulter on December 21, 1947. Together they had four children – Neil, Mel, Julie and Carol.

After Ted was diagnosed with cancer, Julia chose to care for him at home so he could remain with his family. He passed away May 25, 1968. Those who watched Julia provide round-the-clock care, urged her to consider the nursing profession as a way of sharing her compassion and empathy with others. She enrolled in nursing classes at Central Oregon Community College, earning academic honors and becoming a licensed practical nurse. She began working at St. Charles Hospital while attending college and became a full-time nurse in 1970. Her devotion to patients and their families extended far beyond their physical needs. That commitment earned hospital employee of the year honors in 1972. She retired from St. Charles in 1991.

She enjoyed gardening on the five-acre farm south of Bend, making porcelain dolls and ceramics, hand-tooling leather, sewing, candy-making, cooking and watching Seattle Mariners baseball games. In her early years, she was an accomplished bowler and won many individual and team tournaments.

Julia is survived by son Neil and daughter Julie, who live in Bend; son Mel, of Kuna, Idaho; and daughter Carol of Boise, Idaho; granddaughters Charisa and Calli Coulter, of Kuna and Chelsea (John) White of Nashville; and her only great grandson Brendan (Coulter) White. Survivors also include lifelong friends Helen Judy of West Lynn, Oregon; Don Manwiller and Alice McCullough, both of Bend. She was like a mother to many, including Glenda Peters and Debbie (Poole) Breadon and several foster children.

Mother Hattie, father Frank, brother Gerald, daughter-in-law Brenda Coulter and lifelong friend Rae Manwiller preceded her in death.

The Coulter family expresses its deepest appreciation to Dr. Robert Pinnick and Dr. Jason West whose compassion, personal investment and faithful care were largely responsible for adding years to Julia’s life and life to her years. God bless you and the hospice staff for going far beyond your professional responsibilities.

A funeral service is planned for 1 p.m., Monday, November 4, 2013, at the Partners In Care Hospice facility, 2075 NE Wyatt Court (97701) in Bend. An informal reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the chaplain’s fund at Partners in Care. Arrangements are under the auspices of Autumn Funerals of Bend, 61555 Parrell Road, Bend, 97702.