Richard O. Coon

02/25/2005

Richard O. Coon, 61, of 374 East Road died Friday at home. Born in Canaan, Conn., on Jan. 6, 1944, son of Manley and Mary Bailey Coon, he attended Housatonic Valley Regional schools there. At age 15, he moved to Clayton and was a 1962 graduate of Mount Everett High School. Mr. Coon had been a partner in Gilligan Brothers Construction Co. from 1967 until 1992, when he founded his own business, Dick Coon Construction Co. He first worked at Sheffield Plastics from 1962 to 1966. He was a longtime member of the Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department. He coached the Little League Dodgers for five years. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting. He and his wife, the former Holly Gilligan, celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary Feb. 19. They were married in Old Parish Church. Besides his wife, he leaves four sons, R. Matthew Coon and Nathan M. Coon, both of Sheffield, Timothy A. Coon of Granby, Conn., and Michael T. Coon of Southwick; two brothers, Manley Coon of Lee and Russell Coon of Sheffield; a sister, Carolyn O'Connor of Canaan, and eight grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Services for Richard O. Coon, 61, who died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, will be conducted Wednesday, March 2, at 11 at Old Parish Church by the Rev. Art Kaufman. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will be Tuesday, March 1, from 4 to 7 at BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME. Expressions of sympathy in Richard's memory may be made to Ducks Unlimited (his passion) or to the National Kidney Foundation of Massachusetts (his savior) in care of the funeral home, 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. He leaves his aunt, Anne Bachetti of Sheffield; daughters-in-law Maribeth of Southwick and Lisa of Granby; his son Nathan's girlfriend, Stephanie, and eight grandchildren, Joshua, Meagan, Zachary, Emily, Christopher, Steven, Graceann and Ashley. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, living each day for his family.

Obituaries

Celebrating Lives & Legacies

Richard O. Coon

Memorials