Frances Elaine Willis Couey

By Staff
Nov. 5, 2008
Funeral for Frances Elaine Willis Couey, 58, of Eva was Friday, Nov. 7, at 3 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church with the Rev. Kathryn Perkins and Coach Billy Coleman officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.
Mrs. Couey died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Huntsville Hospital. She was born Aug. 12, 1950, in Morgan County to Milford Auburn Willis and Helen Faye Rolfe Willis.
She was raised in South Texas in the little town of Weslaco in the Rio Grande Valley near South Padre Island and the Mexican border. She attended Weslaco High School where she lettered in basketball, softball and track. In 1968, her family moved to Cotaco. She graduated from Cotaco High School, but moving was a drastic change for her as Alabama did not have girls’ sports at the time. But, as she said, she survived. Meeting the love of her live, Gary Couey, more than made up for the changes. She and Gary enjoyed 38 years together and raised their daughter and son and doted on their only grandson.
Mrs. Couey always had a book in her hand, and she loved to travel. She especially loved botany. One of her favorite trips was to California to see the “big trees.” She loved hummingbirds and going to South Pittsburg, Tenn. with her family and her brothers and sister and family to buy fireworks for their yearly 4th of July celebration. She loved going to antique International Tractor Shows, and she loved being alone enjoying nature. She had a special spot on a creek bank behind her home where she would go to read or just to have peace and quiet.
She accomplished a great deal in her career at Danville and Brewer High Schools. At Danville, she kept the gym covered with creative and beautiful signs. At Brewer, she was an assistant principal and the first female principal in Morgan County.
In her words, she had a good life, a fulfilling life. She will be greatly missed by those she loved and those who loved her.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Couey of Eva; a son, Larry Couey of Eva; a daughter, Kim Lindsey and husband Caleb of Florette; a grandson, Dawson Lindsey of Florette; two brothers, Herb Willis and Patrick Willis, both of Cotaco; a sister, Peggy Murphy and husband Don of Cotaco; two nieces, Carrie Holloway and husband Jason of Cotaco; and Leigh Anna Childers and husband John of Pleasant Valley; a great-niece, Brylee Hollaway; and a great-nephew, Murphy Childers.
Pallbearers were Seth Emerson, Robbie R Elliott, Lee Willis, Jerrold Couey, Harvey Kirby, Gilmer Ellis, Sam Brown and Wayne Trimble.