Teresa (Teri) Ann Gillen Coyne of Fort Collins, Colorado, died peacefully Wednesday evening, November 27th surrounded by family and friends at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. She was 60 years old and a 6-year, stage-4, cancer survivor until only recently losing her second brave battle with the disease.

Teri was born Teresa Ann Gillen on November 3, 1953, in McCook, Nebraska, to Francis H. and M. Joan (Stewart) Gillen of McCook. Her father preceded her in death as did her paternal grandparents Frank and Marie Gillen of McCook and maternal grandparents, Roy and Hazel Stewart of Culbertson, Nebraska. 

Teri is survived by James W. Coyne, her husband of 23 years, mother M. Joan Gillen of McCook and mother-in-law Helen Fagen Bush of Fort Collins, sister Janice (Jan) Gilbert and husband Michael (Mike) of McCook, brother Mark Gillen and wife Ann of Kearney, goddaughter Natalie (Gilbert) Marks and great-niece Erin Marks of McCook, nephews Zachary and Nathan Gillen of Kearney, sisters-in-law Karen and Lorraine of northern Colorado and many other aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and special friends.

Teri was most recently employed with Safeway of Fort Collins in the delicatessen and worked most of her life in food services where she perfected and shared her culinary skills. She was an excellent cook and baker, learning her trade, as was her passion, from her paternal grandmother Marie Gillen and former restaurant business owners, her mother M. Joan Gillen and aunt Lorna Wagner Trupp. Teri loved to bake and share her special sticky buns and kraut burgers with her Safeway work family, and other family and friends. 

Teri grew up as a young girl in her beloved Nebraska spending her summers on the Stewart family farm and with her immediate family at Lake McConaughy in Ogallala, Nebraska, fishing, boating, and swimming. Teri loved to water ski. She loved the outdoors, primarily in the spring, summer and autumn months when she could plant her garden, nurture and grow her fruits and vegetables, which she would harvest and then preserve as the ingredients for her delicious recipes. Teri was an advocate for rights, human and animal. She loved spending time with her animals outdoors, feeding and tending to their needs. At the time of her death she was planning to learn how to make candles.

A life remembrance memorial following cremation will be held at Goes Funeral Care, 3665 Canal Drive, #E, Fort Collins, Colorado, on Wednesday, December 4th, starting at noon. Please visit www.goesfuneralcare.com and share special thoughts or prayers. The family requests that in remembrance of Teri during this special season of faith, hope and love that you remember to give generously to your favorite charity.

 

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