Mary Ellen Coulter, 95, of Smithville, MO passed away February 26, 2026.
She was born September 27, 1930, to Harold A. and Alma Ellen (Wood) Smithson in Swan, MO. She grew up in Taneyville, MO and graduated from Forsyth High School.
On July 20, 1951, she was united in marriage to Roy Jay Coulter. After Roy’s honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1953, they moved to Liberty, MO and in 1966 they moved to Smithville where they made their home. Roy passed away on August 24, 2002.
She was a secretary for Parrish Chevrolet in Liberty, MO for several years. Roy and Mary Ellen owned and operated Coulter Excavating and Hauling in Smithville and Coulter Bus Service, Inc. for the Smithville School District.
Mary Ellen was a member of the First Baptist Church of Smithville, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Missouri School Bus Contractor’s Association. She was Grand Marshal of the Smithville Octoberfest and was very involved with the community. Most of all she was extremely active in her children and grandchildren’s lives and loved being Gaga to her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Roy Coulter; her son Randy Jay Coulter; her parents Harold and Alma Smithson; her brothers Clell Smithson, Hank Smithson and Tommy Smithson.
Mary Ellen is survived by her children Regis (Sherrie) Coulter and Janna (James) Horton; grandchildren Cason (fiancé Madison) Coulter, Cainan Coulter, Lindsay (Nathan) Heim, Randy (Whitney) Maus, Kayla (Daltan) Sweet and Treston Horton; great-grandchildren Kimmi, Mary-Lou, Wesley, Benjamin, Arwen, Opal, and Eleanora; brothers Gaylord (Bettie) Smithson and Glen (Brenda) Smithson; sisters Teresa McIntosh and Belva Brewer; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 5th at Grace Community Church, Smithville, MO.Funeral Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 6th at Grace Community Church, Smithville, MO.Burial will be at Community of Smithville Memorial Cemetery.Donations may be made in her memory to Megan’s Paws and Claws or Kids Rock Inc.
