Ila L. Coon

Ila L. Coon, 90, of Juniper Village Assisted Living in Meadville, formerly of Reno died at 6:24 p.m. Monday July 6, 2009 at Meadville Medical Center. A daughter of Albert B. and Mary Hazel Rebecca Mong Coon she was born in Reno on March 17, 1919. She was valedictorian of her class at Rocky Grove High School; she then received her degree in teaching from Slippery Rock State Teachers College and earned her Master?s Degree in Education from Northwestern University in Illinois.
Her first teaching assignment was a one room school in Pithole. Miss Coon developed the kindergarten program for the Oil City School District and for many years taught kindergarten in the Plummer and Hasson Heights schools.
She was active in the community and various teachers? organizations including Delta Kappa Gamma Venango Chapter, P.A.S.R., Reno Volunteer Fire Dept. Aux., Oil City Hospital Aux., Oil City YWCA, Venango County Historical Society. She had been an active member of the Reno United Methodist Church and had served on many committees.
Miss Coon enjoyed reading, sewing, traveling, visiting with family and friends. She will be remembered for her honesty, truthfulness, kindness and frankness. She particularly enjoyed being with children and babies.
Surviving are four nieces and nephews Betty Lou Gilmore and her husband Robert of Meadville, William Coon and his wife Cheryl of Franklin, Gary Coon and his wife Billie of Karns City and Richard McLaughlin of Oklahoma and several great and great-great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother George Coon, a sister Irma McLaughlin and two nephews Bruce and Robert McLaughlin.
Friends will be received in the Huff Chapel, 312 W. Park St. from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday. Funeral services will be conducted in the funeral home at 1 p.m. Friday with Rev. Harrietta Serrins, pastor of the Reno United Methodist Church officiating.
Interment will follow in the Reno Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Reno Volunteer Fire Department, 10 4th Street, Reno PA 16343 or Franklin Public Library, 421 12th Street, Franklin PA 16323.