- Date Of Birth: October 21, 1912
- Date Of Death: December 24, 2010
- State: Florida
Coila Jean (Anderson) Longyear, 98, died peacefully on December 24th, 2010, under the care of Hospice of Palm Beach County. She had been a resident of St. Andrews North in Boca Raton for the past eight years.
Coila (Co-i-la) was born October 21, 1912, to William Roy and Audie (Meeker) Anderson in Alba, Michigan. After graduating from Gaylord (MI) High School, Coila entered Michigan State University in East Lansing. In her freshman year, she was honored by being selected one of the “Eight Most Beautiful Women on Campus”, and was featured in the 1931 yearbook. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and in her senior year, she reigned as Queen of the Spring Festival and Winter Carnival. That year, Coila was chosen to be sponsor of the ROTC Artillery Unit, and as Vice-President of the senior class, she was the first woman to be elected to that office at Michigan State. Coila graduated with a BA in Education. Among her many talents, she was an accomplished violinist, dancer, and horsewoman.
In 1934, Coila met Byron J. (Bing) Longyear of Lansing, who became the absolute love of her life. They were married June 20, 1936, in Alba, and resided in East Lansing for several years, before moving to Lake Park, Fl in 1946. They moved again, in 1970, to North Palm Beach. Bing Longyear died June 29th, 1986, nine days after their 50th wedding anniversary. He was a loving and devoted husband and father, whose loss was irreplaceable. He and Coila enjoyed traveling in Europe and cruising. In later years, she continued to travel to many parts of the world with close friends. For nearly twenty years, until Coila was 95, she and her daughter, Andrea, took Caribbean cruises twice a year.
Coila had an extraordinary career as a truly gifted teacher and mentor to her many students. She taught English Literature and Humanities, while serving as Head of the English Department at Riviera Beach High School (later Suncoast High, the name of which was suggested by her husband, Bing). Coila influenced and inspired countless students during her years as a teacher.
Coila was blessed with a devoted and loving family. She is survived by two daughters, Victoria (Bob C.) Miller, of Jupiter, and Andrea (Daryl J.) Wilmoth, of Boca Raton. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Andrea Von Aldenbruck, Nicole Penland, Jeffrey Miller, Katie Visco, and Emily Broxson. Coila’s great-grandchildren are Michael Morgan and Joey Visco, Lauren and Alec Von Aldenbruck, Anna and Madeline Miller, and Eliana Penland.
The family would like to express their great appreciation to Marie Pauline Plaisir, a devoted caregiver and friend, as well as for the care Coila received from Hospice of Palm Beach County at the JFK Medical Center.
