Harriotte Henderson Bland Coke

What is a life fully lived? Harriotte Henderson Bland Coke (February 8, 1927 – March 20, 2025) used her 98 years on this earth to explore, discover, and live this life given to her. Those who met her felt her unique warmth and genuine embrace of beauty and love. She had a great sense of humor, kept a wider view of what mattered, and embraced a spiritual knowing that went deeply to her core.

Harriotte was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to Ethel (Bacon) and John Osborne Bland, joining her two older siblings, Mary (MacGregor) and John Osborne “Jack”. As the story goes, when three or four years old, she picked flowers from a neighbor’s garden and then presented the bouquet to that same neighbor in hopes of securing a few cents. This was, after all, during the Depression. Her life’s work as a therapist and her eventual way of being grew from that moment: to truly see the gifts of another, and to reflect and honor those gifts back to them with joy and appreciation. This was her gift that she nourished and practiced. Living fully, she knew, was not easy, nor a given. She practiced it daily.

Harriotte attended Sweet Briar College where she flourished. Piano, one of her talents, was not pursued despite her teacher’s encouragement. Math was her major. She married James Guthrie Coke, III, and they had 5 children: James Guthrie, Robert Osborne, William Tate, Edward Underwood, and Elizabeth McCutchen (Sprague). Jim and Harriotte’s message to their children was to be independent and explore. And with the passing of time, Harriotte brought forward her love and devotion to her grown children, their spouses and partners, and her grandchildren with exceptional clarity. For this, we are forever grateful.

Harriotte received her Master of Science and Social Administration (Social Work) from Case Western Reserve in 1972 and worked as a therapist until she was 92. She pursued certifications in Transactional Analysis and RADIX work, but it was her compassionate attunement and intuitive insights that contributed to her success. The early loss of her first husband (July 27, 1980) deepened her spiritual path in ways that only a heartfelt loss can do. She remarried. And as she moved into the second half of her life, her friendships were further cherished as they offered a deep sense of joy, mischievous antics, soulful discussion, and love that made life full. As her life slowed in her 90’s, she took on aging and her diminishing capacities with grace and honesty. She also rarely missed having her three chocolate chip cookies after dinner.

Harriotte is survived by her five children and their spouses: Jim of Kent; Bob of Normandy, France; Bill of Akron; Ed (Linda Stern) of Seattle, WA; and Betsy (Julian Sprague) of South Burlington, VT; her nine grandchildren Mirja, Simon, Maïra, Léonie, Amalia, Hillary, Charles, Margaret and Emily; six great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews (acknowledging Edmund Bland of Louisville, KY), along with her sister-in-law Esther Coke of Marshfield, MA. A special recognition to her friend for over 60 years, Jan Litwack of Rockport, MA.

To honor her life or your time with her, please consider calling someone you love, look for the beauty in the ordinary, bring a twist of good humor into your day, indulge in the pleasures of something sweet, or find a way to honor the bouquet you carry. Harriotte would smile and join you.

In lieu of a funeral service, a celebration of Harriotte’s life will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 3:00PM at Kent United Church of Christ, 1400 E. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.

Services in the care of Bissler and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.