Alice Marie was born in Yeager, Oklahoma at home as a premie who weighed 2 1/2 pounds, delivered by an Indian midwife. She later moved to Nashville, where she met and married Fred Coe, who became a famous TV, Broadway, and movie producer.
Obituary
Tennesseean
Nashville, TN
Coe, Alice Griggs-- Age 87. Died Tuesday, December 9, of heart failure in Nashville. A quiet but strong and affectionate woman with a gentle sense of humor and a voice as smooth and sweet as fine sipping whiskey, she was the childhood sweetheart and first wife of legendary producer Fred Coe. Alice Marie Griggs was born on July 20, 1916, in Yeager, OK, the daughter of Cardwell William Griggs, a retired World War I army officer and the former Mattie (sic - Mattye) Nelson. They soon moved to Nashville, where Alice met Coe in 1933 when both were students at Peabody College for Teachers. They first lived together as man and wife in Columbia, SC, where Coe was director of the Town Theatre from 1940 to 1944. Alice served as business manager for the theatre, a function she would perform in their marriage as well. She also provided the home life and emotional support that allowed Coe's genius to flourish. Coe was the leading producer of the Golden Age of live television drama in New York during the 1950's, when shows of his such as "Marty," "The Trip to Bountiful," "Peter Pan," and "Days of Wine and Roses" stirred America. He also produced such Broadway hits as Two for the Seesaw," "The Miracle Worker," "A Thousand Clowns,"and "Wait Until Dark." His films included "The Miracle Worker" and "A Thousand Clowns." Alice sometimes contributed directly to the success of her husband's TV shows. On one occasion, she went to see a Broadway play starring an unknown ingenue named Grace Kelly. She recommended the starlet to Coe, who put her in one of the live TV dramas that started her on the road to film stardom and the royal palace in Monaco. Following her divorce from Coe in 1952, Alice lived and worked in Ft. Launderdale, FL, where she raised their two children, eventually returning to the Nashville area. She is survived by a son, John Coe, of Atlanta, and a daughter, Laurence Anne Coe, of West Hartford, CT, sister, Marianne Griggs Smith of Goodlettsville, TN; nieces, Carol Payne and Debi Wilis; and nephew, David Smith, all of Nashville; granddaughter, Corinne Marie Coe of New Orleans; and grandson, Samuel Dyches of Brooklyn, NY. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, December 11, from 2 to 8 p.m. And a memorial service will be held Friday, December 12'at 11:30 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society or other charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements by WOODLAWN FUNERAL HOME, (615)383-4754. A Dignity Memorial Provider.
Obituary
Tennesseean
Nashville, TN
Coe, Alice Griggs-- Age 87. Died Tuesday, December 9, of heart failure in Nashville. A quiet but strong and affectionate woman with a gentle sense of humor and a voice as smooth and sweet as fine sipping whiskey, she was the childhood sweetheart and first wife of legendary producer Fred Coe. Alice Marie Griggs was born on July 20, 1916, in Yeager, OK, the daughter of Cardwell William Griggs, a retired World War I army officer and the former Mattie (sic - Mattye) Nelson. They soon moved to Nashville, where Alice met Coe in 1933 when both were students at Peabody College for Teachers. They first lived together as man and wife in Columbia, SC, where Coe was director of the Town Theatre from 1940 to 1944. Alice served as business manager for the theatre, a function she would perform in their marriage as well. She also provided the home life and emotional support that allowed Coe's genius to flourish. Coe was the leading producer of the Golden Age of live television drama in New York during the 1950's, when shows of his such as "Marty," "The Trip to Bountiful," "Peter Pan," and "Days of Wine and Roses" stirred America. He also produced such Broadway hits as Two for the Seesaw," "The Miracle Worker," "A Thousand Clowns,"and "Wait Until Dark." His films included "The Miracle Worker" and "A Thousand Clowns." Alice sometimes contributed directly to the success of her husband's TV shows. On one occasion, she went to see a Broadway play starring an unknown ingenue named Grace Kelly. She recommended the starlet to Coe, who put her in one of the live TV dramas that started her on the road to film stardom and the royal palace in Monaco. Following her divorce from Coe in 1952, Alice lived and worked in Ft. Launderdale, FL, where she raised their two children, eventually returning to the Nashville area. She is survived by a son, John Coe, of Atlanta, and a daughter, Laurence Anne Coe, of West Hartford, CT, sister, Marianne Griggs Smith of Goodlettsville, TN; nieces, Carol Payne and Debi Wilis; and nephew, David Smith, all of Nashville; granddaughter, Corinne Marie Coe of New Orleans; and grandson, Samuel Dyches of Brooklyn, NY. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, December 11, from 2 to 8 p.m. And a memorial service will be held Friday, December 12'at 11:30 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society or other charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements by WOODLAWN FUNERAL HOME, (615)383-4754. A Dignity Memorial Provider.
Alice Marie was born in Yeager, Oklahoma at home as a premie who weighed 2 1/2 pounds, delivered by an Indian midwife. She later moved to Nashville, where she met and married Fred Coe, who became a famous TV, Broadway, and movie producer.
Obituary
Tennesseean
Nashville, TN
Coe, Alice Griggs-- Age 87. Died Tuesday, December 9, of heart failure in Nashville. A quiet but strong and affectionate woman with a gentle sense of humor and a voice as smooth and sweet as fine sipping whiskey, she was the childhood sweetheart and first wife of legendary producer Fred Coe. Alice Marie Griggs was born on July 20, 1916, in Yeager, OK, the daughter of Cardwell William Griggs, a retired World War I army officer and the former Mattie (sic - Mattye) Nelson. They soon moved to Nashville, where Alice met Coe in 1933 when both were students at Peabody College for Teachers. They first lived together as man and wife in Columbia, SC, where Coe was director of the Town Theatre from 1940 to 1944. Alice served as business manager for the theatre, a function she would perform in their marriage as well. She also provided the home life and emotional support that allowed Coe's genius to flourish. Coe was the leading producer of the Golden Age of live television drama in New York during the 1950's, when shows of his such as "Marty," "The Trip to Bountiful," "Peter Pan," and "Days of Wine and Roses" stirred America. He also produced such Broadway hits as Two for the Seesaw," "The Miracle Worker," "A Thousand Clowns,"and "Wait Until Dark." His films included "The Miracle Worker" and "A Thousand Clowns." Alice sometimes contributed directly to the success of her husband's TV shows. On one occasion, she went to see a Broadway play starring an unknown ingenue named Grace Kelly. She recommended the starlet to Coe, who put her in one of the live TV dramas that started her on the road to film stardom and the royal palace in Monaco. Following her divorce from Coe in 1952, Alice lived and worked in Ft. Launderdale, FL, where she raised their two children, eventually returning to the Nashville area. She is survived by a son, John Coe, of Atlanta, and a daughter, Laurence Anne Coe, of West Hartford, CT, sister, Marianne Griggs Smith of Goodlettsville, TN; nieces, Carol Payne and Debi Wilis; and nephew, David Smith, all of Nashville; granddaughter, Corinne Marie Coe of New Orleans; and grandson, Samuel Dyches of Brooklyn, NY. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, December 11, from 2 to 8 p.m. And a memorial service will be held Friday, December 12'at 11:30 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society or other charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements by WOODLAWN FUNERAL HOME, (615)383-4754. A Dignity Memorial Provider.
Obituary
Tennesseean
Nashville, TN
Coe, Alice Griggs-- Age 87. Died Tuesday, December 9, of heart failure in Nashville. A quiet but strong and affectionate woman with a gentle sense of humor and a voice as smooth and sweet as fine sipping whiskey, she was the childhood sweetheart and first wife of legendary producer Fred Coe. Alice Marie Griggs was born on July 20, 1916, in Yeager, OK, the daughter of Cardwell William Griggs, a retired World War I army officer and the former Mattie (sic - Mattye) Nelson. They soon moved to Nashville, where Alice met Coe in 1933 when both were students at Peabody College for Teachers. They first lived together as man and wife in Columbia, SC, where Coe was director of the Town Theatre from 1940 to 1944. Alice served as business manager for the theatre, a function she would perform in their marriage as well. She also provided the home life and emotional support that allowed Coe's genius to flourish. Coe was the leading producer of the Golden Age of live television drama in New York during the 1950's, when shows of his such as "Marty," "The Trip to Bountiful," "Peter Pan," and "Days of Wine and Roses" stirred America. He also produced such Broadway hits as Two for the Seesaw," "The Miracle Worker," "A Thousand Clowns,"and "Wait Until Dark." His films included "The Miracle Worker" and "A Thousand Clowns." Alice sometimes contributed directly to the success of her husband's TV shows. On one occasion, she went to see a Broadway play starring an unknown ingenue named Grace Kelly. She recommended the starlet to Coe, who put her in one of the live TV dramas that started her on the road to film stardom and the royal palace in Monaco. Following her divorce from Coe in 1952, Alice lived and worked in Ft. Launderdale, FL, where she raised their two children, eventually returning to the Nashville area. She is survived by a son, John Coe, of Atlanta, and a daughter, Laurence Anne Coe, of West Hartford, CT, sister, Marianne Griggs Smith of Goodlettsville, TN; nieces, Carol Payne and Debi Wilis; and nephew, David Smith, all of Nashville; granddaughter, Corinne Marie Coe of New Orleans; and grandson, Samuel Dyches of Brooklyn, NY. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, December 11, from 2 to 8 p.m. And a memorial service will be held Friday, December 12'at 11:30 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society or other charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements by WOODLAWN FUNERAL HOME, (615)383-4754. A Dignity Memorial Provider.
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