Marsha Coleman

Obituary of Marsha Gae Coleman

Marsha Gae (Hatch) Coleman, age 86, of Mesa, Arizona passed away peacefully on April 10, 2023 surrounded by her family. Marsha is survived by her loving husband, Nicholas Kent Coleman, her sister JoAnn Kelly, all four of her children: Koko Head (Donna), Panda Nixon (Ray), Nicki Gae Hazlett (Steve) and Marshall Kent Coleman (Michelle), along with 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Marsha was preceded in death by her parents John Merrell Hatch and Cornelia Amanda Hatch, her sister Merrelyn Jayne Hatch and her granddaughter Alisha Ann Head.

Marsha was born on April 24, 1936 in Thatcher, AZ and grew up there and in Arlington and Phoenix, AZ where her parents worked as school administrators and teachers. She graduated from North Phoenix High School and followed her parents’ examples graduating from the University of Arizona with a teaching degree and later receiving her master’s degree in counseling from Arizona State University. She was active as a college senior in organizing the first chapter of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority in 1957 at the University of Arizona and continued to be involved and honored as an ADPi for her contributions over her lifetime. She taught dance and P.E. at Mesa High School and was a sponsor of the cheerleaders, Bunnies and Rabettes marching group. She later became a guidance counselor at Mesa High in 1971 where she served until she retired in 1996. She met Nick Coleman in 1964 and the two quickly fell in love and were married on July 17, 1965 and were later sealed in the Mesa Temple. Marsha and Nick made Mesa, AZ their home where they raised their four children, Koko, Panda, Nicki and Marshall, all of whom attended their beloved Mesa High School.

Marsha influenced and touched the lives of thousands of students and faculty over her 25 years serving both at the original campus in downtown Mesa and the current campus. She worked tirelessly as a volunteer for the many charities she championed including Desert Club since 1971 where she served as an early President. From 1976 to 1996 she served the Kiwanis Club of Mesa producing the Mesa Junior Miss Scholarship program and loved working with many amazing and talented young women. Marsha loved attending ASU sporting events including basketball and baseball with her family—a love she got from her parents who were avid sports fans. She was involved with her weekly aerobics class for over 25 years and rarely missed. Marsha and Nick were blessed to celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary and enjoyed a long, full life together watching the children and grandchildren grow, going the family cabin in Bear Flat, AZ, taking trips on the Colorado River in Moab, UT and travel between Arizona and Florida. Marsha was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she served in numerous callings working with the youth of the Church in her Ward and as Stake Camp Director over the years.

A viewing will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Meldrum Mortuary, 52 N. McDonald, Mesa, AZ 85201 and a viewing and funeral service will be held on Saturday, April, 15, 2023 from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. with the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at the Three Fountain Ward Bldg., 1852 N. Stapley Drive, Mesa, AZ 85203. Marsha will be interred at the Mesa Cemetery in a grave side service attended by immediate family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in honor of Marsha’s memory be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, online at https://p2p.onecause.com/rmhcdonate/d

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Friday
14
April

Visitation

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Friday, April 14, 2023
Meldrum Mortuary
52 N. Macdonald
Mesa, Arizona, United States
4808349255
Saturday
15
April

Viewing

10:00 am - 10:45 am
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
1852 N. Stapley Drive
Mesa, Arizona, United States
Saturday
15
April

Funeral Service

11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
1852 N. Stapley Drive
Mesa, Arizona, United States
Saturday
15
April

Graveside Service

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Saturday, April 15, 2023
City of Mesa Cemetery
1212 North Center
Mesa, Arizona, United States
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