"Remember the good ole? days, when our parent(s) would have these big celebrations (parties), when there was a special occasion? Lots of food and adult beverages (NO DRUGS), and usually an old country band, or maybe just old country music, and LOTS of food? I believe Cora and I were in the 2nd or 3rd grade, and your parents had a party in the basement (garage) of the house you all grew up in, in Green Castle. I remember Cora teaching me to do the ?2-step? dance on that evening, with of course, our parents pushing us a little (A LOT?), because we were both quite shy youngsters. It?s strange how we tend to forget about those days until something so tragic occurs. I do remember that evening, as if it were last night. How fast our lives go past us... Just like our parents told us it would. My thoughts and prayers are with you all in this very tough time.... ?Carry On,? dear Cora... Chuck, class of ?77."
In loving memory of
Cora L. Williams
December 18, 1958 - January 23, 2020
Cora Lorraine "Coke" Williams, age 61 of Colfax, passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at Unity Point Methodist in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at the Howard Street Christian Church in Colfax. Burial will take place at Greencastle Cemetery. Visitation for Cora will be held on Monday, January 27, 2020 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax. Memorials may be directed to the family and condolences may be left at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
The daughter of Harold E. and Catharine (Wade) Henderson, Cora was born on December 18, 1958 in Newton, Iowa. She graduated from Mingo High School in 1977. She then went on to receive her nursing license. On December 4, 1983, she was united in marriage to Mike Williams in Seymour, Texas. Cora worked as a cardiology nurse at Des Moines General, retiring in 2004. She was a member of the Pocahontas Lodge, the Colfax Fire Department and the Mingo Alumni Association. She enjoyed dog grooming, fishing, gardening, helping others in need and most of all time spent with her grandchildren.
Those left to honor her memory include her husband Mike; children, Erika (Tyson) Schmidt, Cora (Mariano Galla) Johnson, and Byron Johnson and four grandchildren, Izaiah, Camden, Holsten, and Sterling Wade. Also surviving are her siblings, Clifford (Doris) Henderson, Ronald (Coleen) Henderson, Charles R. (Mary Myer) Brown, Nora Borts, and Marilyn (Richard Fite) Henderson. Preceding Cora in death were her parents, siblings, Dorothy Henderson, Marcella Van Sant, Lavina K. Dawson and Julia Henderson; a sister-in-law, Diana Brown and a brother-in-law, Larry Borts Sr.
Tributes
"To Cora's family and friends, you are in my thoughts and prayers during this time of loss. Jerry Boelman"
"Our prayers and sympathies are extended to the family and friends of Cora Williams. Ira United Church, Ira, Iowa"
"Cora was a great supporter of the the Colfax Public Library. She loved to read lots and lots of Christmas novels during the season. She always brightened my day when she came in to check out books. I and many others will miss her cheerful and encouraging personality so much! She was a great lady."
"I am sorry about Cora?s passing ?"
"Cora was a sweet friend. She held my hand in the waiting room for a procedure I was panicking about. I was jabbering a mile a minute. Someone in the waiting room made a hands talking remark. Cora was a tiny spitfire. She set her straight. Firmly, quietly and factually. I calmed down instantly out of shock. I whispered, "I love you." She saved me with recipes. I'd text or call her with what I had in the fridge and Cora gave me great ideas on how to make things better. During the year of the Colfax flood, I folded so many clothes with her... for months at the church. We joked for years about folding clothes being never ending. With many of her jokes making me snort laugh. And then her snorting and we laughed about our noises. I will miss you....."