Betty Jean Coggeshall

Portsmouth, RI - Betty Jean Taylor Coggeshall, 81, of 72 Point Road, Portsmouth, RI, died Sunday, February 27, 2011, at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI. She was the wife of the late Vincent L. Coggeshall. Born in Fall River, MA, on January 15, 1930, she was the daughter of the late John R. and Edith Blackburn Taylor.Mrs. Coggeshall was a 1948 graduate of BMC Durfee High School. She then graduated from the Old Union Hospital Nursing School in 1952, having been a member of Alpha Sigma, the National Honor Society and a 50 year member of the Alumnae Association. Betty also obtained her operating room certificate and diploma in OR Nursing from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. She worked at the Union Hospital as an OR Instructor and later at the Davis Park VA Hospital as an OR Nurse and later a MED/Surgical Nurse. She volunteered at both the Hathaway and Portsmouth Middle Schools, helping to set-up, and later serving as the coordinator of the Volunteer In Schools Program. She was active in the Portsmouth Middle and High Schools? Band activities, serving as Treasurer of the Band Boosters. Betty was also active in Cub Scouts serving as Assistant Pack Leader of Pack 50 in Portsmouth. Betty was an active member of the St. Paul?s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, having served on the vestry, a member of their choir for many years and as an outreach organizer. She is survived by son Robert A. Coggeshall of Portsmouth, her sister in-law Phyllis Correia of Portsmouth, RI, and many nieces and nephews. Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, John L. Coggeshall.Her funeral will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2011, at 11:00am in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in Portsmouth Cemetery in Portsmouth.Calling hours will be held Wednesday, March 2, 2011, from 4-8pm in the Connors Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to American Diabetes Association, 222 Richmond Street, Suite 204, Providence, RI 02906.