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Coons, Emmett E.
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DON'T LEGALIZE DRUGS
I have read the letter to the editor in the
Advocate on the war on drugs {Mar. 26).
I agree that we will never completely win
the war on drugs. As long as there are evil
men seeking to make a profit from the sale
of drugs, and as long as there are people
who are seeking the so called pleasures
of drugs, there will be a drug problem . But
the use of drugs is evil and you can not
legalize an evil and control it.
Take the use of alcohol as an example.
Since repeal, the rate of alcoholism in our
nation has risen by leaps and bounds. No
family in our nation is without a problem
from alcohol somewhere in their family
tree. This has come about since repeal
and the use of alcohol has become an accepted practice in our society. Children
are becoming alcoholics before they
become teenagers because we have
made alcohol so available in our society.
We are all in danger from alcohol related
crimes and accidents. People are still
. maki~ g. re_al. _pro!Jt~ from t~e alcohol iqdustry, JUSt as th ey would off the drug industry if we were to make it legal to sell
drugs. The use of drugs would spread as
has the use of alcohol.
If you think that the use of tobacco and
alcohol has had a bad effect on our society , wait and see what the effect of drugs
would have if we would make them legal
and spread the use of them .
No one enjoys the battle against evil.
Yet we must continue th e battle. We may
not be able to have a complete victory, but
we can not compromise with evil.
~!Jo/1? f o
-Emmett E. Coons
I.
Retired member, Detroit COnt.
THE REV. EMMETT COONS will be
honorecii'o r his 39 years of faithfu l service
to the ministry on Sunday, June 12, at the
10:30 service of Trinity UMC, Chesaning.
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T H E R EV. EM METT
COONS, retired pastor of the
D etroit Conference, died M ar.
13. In lieu of flowers, m emorials m ay be sent to Camp
M ichigamme in R ev. Coons'
nam e. Survivors are d aughter
Carol Allen of Iron Mountain
and son Dewayne Coons of
Flint.
'3/'1"8
3j7
THE REV. EMME TT E .
COONS, 7 4 of Kingsford,
Mich ., died Mar. 13 at Dickinson County Mem orial H ospital. H e was born Oct. 5, 1923,
in Barron~Wjsc., son of the late
Alfred and Veva Coons. H e
m arried l~ab elle Street on Apr.
9, 1949, in Adrian, Mich . She
preceded him in death in 1994.
R ev. Coons becam e a full
m ember of the D etroit Conferen ce in 1960. He served at
Jerome UMC, Elkton, N ewberry, Hulbert, Morenci, Oregon, Alba, and Norway Faithoro, as well as in Ill. He was
active in Camp Michigamm e,
and six months ago he attend-
ed the Emmaus Walk. R ev.
Coons is survived by two sons:
D avid Gacqueline) C oon s of
Flint, and DeWayne (Patricia)
Coons of Flint; three daughters: Ellen Gack) Intawong of
Mt. Morris, Carol Allen of
Iron Mountain, and Mary
(Bruce) Edwards of R ochelle,
Ill. ; and one sister, Lucietta
(Barron) Johnson of Barron ,
Wise .; and m any other relatives. Services were at Trinity
UMC in Iron M ountain on
Mar. 16 and atTrinity U MC in
Chesaning on Mar. 18. Memorials m ay .be sent to Camp
Michigamme in Rev. Coons'
name.
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I Am With You Always!
To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me
When I am gone. release me. let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
You musn't tie yoursell to me with tears.
Be happy that we had so many years.
I gave you my love. you can only guess.
how much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown.
but now it's time I traveled on alone.
So grieve awhile for me if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It's only for awhile that we must part.
so bless the memories within your heart.
I won't be far away, for life goes on.
So if you need me. call and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me. I'll be near.
And il you listen with your heart. you'll hear
all of my love around you soft and clear.
And then. when you must come this Wa}f alone.
I'll greet you with a smile and "welcome home."
No one enJoys me oame aga1nst evil.
Yet we must continue the battle. We may
not be able to have a complete victory, but
we can not compromise with evil.
.ifjJo/1? f ()
-Emmett E. Coons
Retired member, DetrOit Cont.
THE REV. EMMETT COONS will be
honorecffor h1s 39 years of faithful service
to the ministry on Sunday, June 12, at the
10:30 s~rvice ?f Trinity U ~ C . Chesaning.
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•
In Memory Of
LILLIE ISABEL COONS
Date of Birth
November 6, 1923
Date of Death
May 19,1994
Funeral Service
Sunday, May 22, 1994
2:00p.m.
at
Trinity United Methodist Church
Chesaning, Michigan
Officiating Clergyman
Rev. George Ward
Burial:
Glenwood Cemetery
Flint, Michigan
Arrangements Under The
DirccLion Of
Misiuk Funeral Home
Chesaning, Michigan
TH E REV. E MM E T T
COONS, retired pastor of the
Petroit Conference, died Mar.
13. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Camp
M ichigamme in Rev. Coons'
name. Survivors are daughter
Carol Allen of Iron Mountain
and son Dewayne Coons of
F lint.
3
'18
j 7 "3/
THE REV. EMMETT E .
COONS, 74 of Kingsford,
Mich., died Mar. 13 at Dickinson County Memorial H ospital. He was born Oct. 5, 1923,
in Barron~W ise., son of the late
Alfred and Veva Coons. He
married Isabelle Street on Apr.
9, 1949, in Adrian, Mich . She
preceded him in death in 1994.
Rev. Coons became a full
member of the Detroit Conference in 1960 . He served at
Jerome UMC, Elkton , Newberry, H ulbert, Morenci, Oregon, Alba, and Norway Faithom, as well as in Ill. He was
active in Camp Michigamme,
and six months ago he attend-
ed the Emmaus Walk. R ev.
Coons is survived by two sons:
D avid Gacqueline) Coons of
Flint, and D eWayne (Patricia)
C oons of Flint; three daughters: Ellen Gack) lntawong of
M t. Morris, C arol Allen of
Iron M ountain, and M ary
(Bruce) Edwards of Rochelle,
Ill.; and one sister, Lucietta
(Barron) Joh nson of Barron,
Wise. ; and m any oth er relatives. Services were at Trinity
UMC in Iron Mountain on
Mar. 16 and at Trinity UMC in
Chesaning ori Mar. 18. Memorials m ay . be sent to Camp
Michigam me in Rev. C oons'
nam e.
6/'!Fr
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Emmett Edward Coons
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY: I was born October 5,
1923 in Barron, Wisconsin, the son of A. Alfred
and Veva Coons. My father was a rural letter carrier. I finished high school in Barron in 1943 and
was taken right into the service. I was placed in
the Air Transport Command. I served overseas
in the Gilbert Islands and at Hickam Field,
Hawaii. While in the Gilbert Islands I felt the call
into the ministry. While at Hickam Field I was
President of the Christian Serviceman's League.
I was discharged February of '46. I en tered
Ad rian College that fall.
I married Isabelle Street April 9, 1949. We
•I
graduated from Adrian in 1950 and moved to
Reynolds, Illinois, to serve th e chu rch there and
to attend Garrett. After three yea rs in Reynolds,
the school work, the church work and the long dri ve into Evanston caused me to drop
out of school. We moved to Chesaning, M ich. In the fa ll of '53, I was appointed to
the Elkton charge. Each year at conference the Board of Ordained Minist1y would encou rage me to go back to finish my schooling. I finally agreed to go back if I cou ld
be in daily driving dis.tance. I was given a church in Grand Rapids and drove to attend
the Reform Church Seminary in Holland, Michigan.
After graduation from seminary I accepted an appointmen t to th e Newberry charge
in the U.P. From there I was appointed to Morenci.
W hile in Morenci I had surgery in Ann Arbor. They removed a part of the first two
vertebra. Then I was appointed to the Oregon-Elba charge. Then to Norway charge
in the U.P. In 1978 the doctor put me on disability bt:::ause my head was settling
from the operation in Ann Arbor. This was affecting my balance.
W ith the help of an F.H.A. loan we bought a home in Iron MountJin.
I found it hard to understand why I had to give up the full time ministry 10 years before
retirement age. However the way opened up for me to become the minister of visi tJ·
lion for Trinity church in Iron Mountain.
In 1985 we decided that we couldn't keep up our own home anymore. They had
built a nice apartment village in Isabelle's home town of Chesani ng. This is near three
of our married children and 10 of our 12 grandchi ldren. We sold our home in Iron
Mountain and moved to Chesaning in 1985. We enjoy the church, the community,
our apartment and being near to more of our fami ly. We have 5 married children,
David, DeWayne, Ellen, Carol and Mary. We have 12 grandchi ldren and another one
on the way. Our youngest daughter hasn't started her fami ly yet.
God has been good to us. We raised 5 children on the minimum sJIJry without going
into debt. We had all we needed and some of the extras. After my operation in Ann
Arbor they told my wife I shou ld be able to walk for 10 more years. That was in 1966
and it is now 1988 and I am still walking. Praise the Lord. I still do some calling for
Trinity church in Chesaning.
an th irty years. For a part
at Iron Mountain Trinity.
Jdministrator, but it was
preciJte his pastoral skills.
sick, the elderly, and the
popular among this very
is frequent visits.
•
the fact that he seems to
of our time. Doubt
~avily on a great many of
pressure of the sudden ly
lue, sta tus, or purpose in
do, any promise for what
~clergy
n United M ethodist Churlistry does not depend for
~pc nds upon fidelity; upon
rd, and that what we are
aiming and giving thanks
ti on.
istry, I thank him for what
ne nas oeen, ana ror wnat I trust he w111 contmue to be- a faithfu l servant of the living
God. It is my fondest prayer that those who are called to follow in the footsteps of
his niinistry, reflecting on his li fe and work, on who he was and what he did, w ill
find in his example, the courage and faithfulness w hich ministry in the name of Christ
requires. That they will see and understand, that the sum and substance of his life
as he sought to live between the times, was not unli ke that of the faithful jew of ancient rabbinical story; He lived between two bits of paper, one in each of his pockets .
When he was full of the enthusiasm o f his own success and triumph he drew the bit
of paper from his right hand pocket and read on it "You are dust and ashes." And
w hen he was desponden t, and crushed by the w eight of his days, he drew the bi t
from his left hand pocket and read, "For you, the world was created."
Emmett, mdy God richly bless you and Isabelle in all that is to come.
David M. Liscomb
•
TESTIMONIAl: I have known Emmett Coons for more than thirty years. For a part
of that tim e he served with me a~ the Minister of Visitation at Iron Mountain Trinity.
I knew that Emmett was a good preaclwr ,llld J competent administra tor, but it was
during our years together in Iron Mountain tha t I came to appreciate his pastoral skill s.
Faithfully Emmett shared with me the task of caring for the sick, the elderly, and the
shut-in of that Upper Peninsula community. Emmett was popular among thi s very
special segment of our pari sh and they eagerl y awaited his frequent visits.
One of the things about Emmett that has impressed me is the fact that he seems to
have handled so well the doubt w hich is prevalent among the clergy of our time. Doubt
about w hat it mea ns to be a mini ster. Doubt w hich lies heavily on a great many of
our hearts, so that we are awakened in the darkness by the pressure of the suddenl y
fe lt w ei ght of it. Doubt about whether there is any use, value, status, or purpose in
ou r vocation; about w hether there is any point to what we do, any promise for what
we hope.
Emmett's life and servi ce as a pastor to the people in a dozen United Methodi~t Churches eloquently bears witness to the truth th at effective ministry does not depend for
its success upon skill s, glamour, or pleasing innovations; it depends upon fidelity; upon
faithfulness to that Christ who is our risen and reigning Lord, and that what we are
ca lled to is not a profession, but a god-given work of proclaiming and giving thanks
for what God in Christ has done for us, and for our salvation.
On this, the occasion of Emmett's retirement from active ministry, I thank him for what
he has been, and for what I trust he will continue to be-a faithful servant of the living
God. It is my fondest prayer that those who are called to follow in the footsteps of
his ministry, reflecting on his life and work, on w ho he w as and what he did, will
find in his example, the courage and faithfulness which ministry in the name of Christ
requires. That they will see and understand, that the sum and substance of his life
as he sought to live between the times, was not unlike that of the faithful jew of ancient rabbinica l story; He lived between two bits of paper, one in each of his pockets.
When he was full of the enthusiasm of hi s own success and triumph he drew the bi t
of paper from his right hand pocket and read on it "You are dust and ashes." And
when he was despondent, and crushed by the weight of his days, he drew the bit
from his ldt hand pocket and read, "For you, the world was crea ted."
Emmett, may God ri chly bless you and Isabelle in all that is to come.
David M. Li scomb
MET HODIST COMMUNICATIONS
The Methodist Church
EWS
ELLIS L. FENTON
MARSH ALL R. REED
D ir ector
R es ident Bishop
D irector
Methodist Information and
Public Rela tions
HOME OFFICE
WILLIAM MORFORD
Methodist Ra dio, Film and
Television Division
3217 L APEER ST., FLINT 4, MICH.
PHONE CEdar 3·51 12
Press Room Detroit Annual Conference of Methodist Church
First Methodist Church Ann Arbor, Mich.
Ted Hastings, NO 8-6881
The Rev. Emmett E. Coons of Grand Rapids was received into
full membership of the Detroit Annual Conference of the
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Methodist Church Wed June 15, 1960. He will be ordained as
an Elder by Bishop Marshall R. Reed Sunda y June 19 at the
First Methodist Church Ann Arbor. Bishop Reed is the Episcpal leader of the Methodist Church in Michigan. He is a
graduate of Adrian College, and Western
Theological Sem-
inary. He has been serving as the pastor of· Epworth Meth/
Church in Grand Rapids. He and his wife Isabel will be
continuing in the pastoral ministry in Michigan. They have
five children, David 9, DeWayne 7, Ellen 4, Carol Lou 2,
and Mary 6 months.
The Rev.
at Adrian.
~r.
Coons has a bache l or of art s degree from Adrian
~a l lege
He attended Garrett Institute at Evanston, I l l., and finished his
theo l ogical work at Nest ern Seminary in Hol l and, Michigan.
He served at the Elkton i·1 ethodist "hurch 3~ years, the .~ethodist church
at Jerome, Hichigan, three years at Reyno l ds, Ill., and at Grand Rapids for
three years.
~oons
He was ordained June 19th at the conference in Ann Arbor.
Mr.
is a me mber of the Detroit "onference.
r-1r. and Mrs. '1oone have five children, David, De ':/ayne, Ellen, "'arol Lou
and Mary K.
Coons, Emmett E.