South Padre Island, TX. — Sandra Lee Bowles Coulter

Died September 23, 2008 at the University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas two days after a severe injury in a fall near her home at South Padre Island, Texas. Sandra was born August 2, 1939 in Portland, Oregon, the youngest of three daughters of Florence A. Bowles and Gibson Bowles. She attended school in Portland followed by college at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and then at the University of Oregon where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She graduated in 1961 with a degree in education.

Sandra taught school in California until 1969. During that time she also became an outstanding sales representative for a national company.

At a sales convention she met another super-salesman, Tedrowe Coulter of Tonkawa, Oklahoma. They married October 25, 1969 in the back yard of her sister's home in San Antonio, Texas, then lived in Tonkawa, and were devoted to one another for the next 32 years.

Sandra and Tedrowe were known and respected for their success in agricultural businesses in which they worked side by side as full partners. The culmination of years of hard work as a team was the opening of Coulter's Corner, a center for the sale of farm equipment and a base for their other enterprises, on Highway 35 outside of Tonkawa,. After Tedrowe's death in 2001 Sandra sold the business and in 2003 moved to South Padre Island, Texas where she became involved in numerous community activities, including Club Padre which she served as vice-president, Spirit, the Red Hat Society, South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce, Property Owners Who Care, and the Island Baptist Church, and she served as a volunteer for other organizations.

Sandra was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Tedrowe Coulter; her sister, Geraldine Olsen and her husband, Col. William Olsen: her step-daughter, Mary Coulter Robson; and her step-grandson, Jordan Coulter.

Sandra is survived by her sister, Yvonne Bowles Sears, and her husband, Dr. David A. Sears; her brother-in-law, Thomas Coulter, and his wife, Donna; her step-son, Jerry Coulter, and his wife Shelly; several step-grandchildren and great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews; and by a host of devoted friends, both in Oklahoma and Texas. She also leaves her beloved cocker spaniel, Crystal.

Sandra loved life and lived it to the fullest. She loved to dress up, and she lit up the room when she entered it. She was like an Auntie Mame to her great nieces and nephews. She will be deeply missed by her family and large number of friends.

Memorial services will be held at the Island Baptist Church on South Padre Island on Saturday October 11, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. A reception at the church will follow. A private burial service was held previously in Tonkawa, Oklahoma.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the Island Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 2131, South Padre Island, TX 78597 or to Sea Turtles, Inc., P.O. Box 3987, South Padre Island, TX 78597, or to a charity of your choice.

Sign the guestbook at: http://legacy.com/Valleystar/Obituaries.asp