Annie Lyle Apperson Coulston, age 89, of Oak Harbor, Washington passed on to Glory Jan. 24, 2012. She was born on Oct. 15, 1922 in Durham, N.C. to William Franklin and Annie (Stoner) Apperson. She was the seventh of seven children — three boys and four girls.
When her mother died, Annie was 13 years old and she went to live with her sisters. Soon after she completed high school she married too young, to Alan Hunter. They were only married for two years before she was swept off her feet by George Buckner of Bethlehem, Penn. and married him right away in 1944. They were married for 22 years and had three daughters who were her prized possessions.
In 1965, Annie married Jack Coulston, the absolute love of her life. She also gained a precious stepson and stepdaughter.
Annie and Jack came to love the Lord Jesus and worked together establishing a Holocaust Remembrance Committee and Resource Center in New Jersey. She and Jack were married for 23 years.
Annie had a special heart for the Jewish people. She was a prayer warrior and led a Bible fellowship group and also did voluntary visitation.
During her lifetime, Annie did some secretarial work for dentists and doctors. She acted in Summer Stock and Civic Theater in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey.
Annie was also quite a singer and artist in her own right, as well as an avid golfer. Everyone who knew her remembers Annie as exceptionally easy to live with, having a vibrant spirit, lots of laughter, a beautiful smile, and an incredibly loving heart.
Annie is preceded in death by all of her brothers and sisters, her second and third husbands George Buckner and Jack Coulston, respectively, and her stepson Michael Coulston. She is survived by: her daughters Beverly Shaffer and husband Rev. Terry Shaffer of Blairsville, PA; Anne Keresey and husband James of Oak Harbor, WA; Georgia Buckner and fiancé Jack Nicholson of Winfield, IL; her very dear stepdaughters Candace Coulston of South Bristol, ME and Jackie Coulston of Mocksville, NC; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved.
Annie was buried at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville. A Memorial Service was held Jan. 30, 2012 at First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor, WA, officiated by Pastors Jon Brown and Noel Snyder.
