Patricia Barker Coon

AMENIA — Patricia Barker Coon, age 92, a resident of Brookdale at Fillmore Pond in Bennington, Vt., and a former resident of Amenia and Stephentown, N.Y., died on Nov. 10, 2019, following a brief illness.

She was born in Burlington, Vt., on April 3, 1927, and was the daughter of the late Grace (Rumball) and Clifford Barker. 

She received her education in local schools and is a graduate of the State University of New York, New Paltz. 

As a small child, she took piano lessons, and then went on to play the flute, alto horn, trumpet, bell lyre and drums. She played in the school band as well as the community band. 

Patricia married Dirck Coon, a dairy farmer, and had five children.

She loved to sew and learned to quilt. Patricia won several awards for baking, sewing and crafts. She was Girl Scout leader and 4H leader. She was a Dutchess County Cooperative Extension Board member and chairperson of the Dutchess County Dairy Princess Committee. She was a member of the Smithfield Presbyterian Church in Amenia, and was an elder of the church.

She retired from teaching in 1992. She taught at the Webutuck Central School District for 28 and one half years. She was instrumental in setting up the computer program for the middle school in the Webutuck district. 

Patricia belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma, the International Honor Society for teachers.

She moved to Stephentown in 1987, and became a very active member of the community, which included membership in the Stephentown Federated Church and chairperson of the General Committee. She was involved with the Literacy Volunteers as a tutor and board member, and sat on the Board for the Stephentown Library. She was also a member of the Pittsfield College Club. 

Patricia enjoyed playing the organ and swimming at the YMCA. She also enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Australia and New Zealand.  

She loved hot air balloons, and several years ago she attended the Rose Bowl Parade and helped assemble the floats.

Survivors include her longtime companion, George Eckhardt of Stephentown; her children, Sheila Hewitt and her husband, Todd, of Berlin, N.Y., Peter Coon and his wife, Alice, of Amenia, Timothy Coon and his wife, Elizabeth, of Amenia,  David Coon and his wife, Kimberly, of Amenia, Christopher Coon and his wife, Sarah, of Sharon; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Carolyn Cookingham of Staatsburg, N.Y., and Marion Jural of Tomahawk, Wis.; and many loved nieces and nephews.  

She was predeceased by her parents; and one sister, Barbara.

Funeral services were held Nov. 15 at the Stephentown Federated Church.