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Mary Catherine Coates, 86, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2016, at Sagepoint Rehabilitation Center, after an extended illness. Mary was born on July 23, 1929, in Washington, D.C., the eldest of three children, to the late John W. and Margaret E. Langley. Mary was married to the late James Robert Coates Sr. on Feb. 6, 1948. Mary has been an active lifetime member of 46 years with the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary. She has held various Officer positions, including President for several years. Mary was the Chairman of the American Red Cross Bloodmobile for more than 20 years. She was also the President in 1983-1984 of the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen's Association Ladies Auxiliary and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992, along with the Maryland State Firemen's Association Ladies Auxiliary Hall of Fame in 2003. Mary also volunteered for a number of years at the American Legion Harry White Wilmer Post 82 in La Plata, MD, and was a member of the auxiliary at the Charles Regional Hospital Center. Mary loved volunteering, baking and canning. She was very well known for her delicious scratch baked cakes, home canning including pickles, tomatoes, jellies and jams. Mary is survived by her two children, James Robert Coates Jr., married to his wife Jeannie, of La Plata, MD, and Sharon Marie Zdobysz, married to her husband, Michael, of Waldorf, MD. She has five grandchildren: Barbara Bennett (husband, Rich) of Wardensville, WV; Christopher Zdobysz (wife, Jillian) of Preston, MD; Betsy Chase (husband, Brad) of Chattanooga, TN; Heather Zdobysz of Chaptico, MD, and Justin Zdobysz (wife, Chelsie) of Waldorf, MD. She has four great grandchildren: Jordin and Morgin Bennett, and Macrina and Nathaniel Zdobysz. A viewing was held at Huntt Funeral Home, 3035 Old Washington Road, Waldorf, MD, on Thursday, July 7, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. with Fire Department Auxiliary prayers at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be at Huntt Funeral Home on Friday, July 8, 10 a.m. with burial at Trinity Memorial Gardens, 3221 Mattawoman Beantown Road, Waldorf, MD at 11 a.m. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, 3425 Old Washington Road, Waldorf, MD 20603.

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Mary Catherine Coates

July 23, 1929 - July 5, 2016