Dorothy E. (Salmon) Coates, 78, of Worcester, passed away on Holy
Saturday, April 19, 2014, in the Home and Hospice Care Center in
Providence, Rhode Island. She is now with her Lord and Savior and
with her beloved husband, Raymond Coates, who predeceased her in
January 1993. Dorothy is survived by her loving children, two
daughters, Pamela L. Fisher and her fiancé Orlando Semedo and
Florence E. Potter of Boston; ten sons, Carthur A. Fisher, Jr. and his
wife Laura of Derry, NH, Dennis R. Fisher of Worcester, Rodney B.
Fisher of Lowell, Mark A. Fisher and his wife Robin of Worcester,
Derrick H. Fisher of Georgia, Gary E. Fisher of New Boston, NH,
Dean A. Fisher and his wife Luz of Worcester and Brazil, Richard L.
Fisher and his wife Meghan of Manchester, Michael R. Fisher and
his wife Danielle of Minneapolis and Raymond Coates, Jr. of
Manchester. She is also survived by thirty-four grandchildren, twentytwo
great grandchildren; a brother, Richard Salmon of Newton; two
sisters, Shirley Dunn and Linda Rowlett both of Worcester; many
nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by two
brothers and three sisters, Willie Salmon, Theodore J. Salmon, Laura
L. Whitaker, Pearl M. Ray-Miller and Elizabeth L. Price. Dorothy
was born in Worcester, daughter of the late Leroy and Lillian Mae
(Rutherford) Salmon and has lived here all her life. Dorothy
graduated from Commerce High School in 1953 and earned a Degree
in Education from UMass Amherst, in 1975. She dedicated her career
to the education of young minds. She was an elementary teacher in
the Worcester Public School system for over twenty-eight years, with a
special interest in special education, retiring in 2003. Upon her
retirement she was honored by the Massachusetts State Senate and
Massachusetts House of Representatives for her many years of
dedicated service to the young people of Worcester. She was also
honored by the Quinsigamond Elementary School for her many years
there. Her children remember fondly that she was honored as
"Woman of The Year", as well. She also did child care and foster
care in her home - with Dorothy, “it was all about the children”. She
was a member of Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church, the Nakomis
Temple of the Quinsigamond Lodge of Elks and Massachusetts
Teachers Association.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Dorothy Coates
Scholarship Fund at www.forevermissed.com/dorothycoates
