LIVERMORE, Calif. — Pearl R. Coon, 93, of Livermore, Calif., went to her eternal home on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010.

She was born on May 29, 1916, in Rembrandt, Iowa, the daughter of Bert and Beatta Conrad.

She married Lowell Coon on Dec 12, 1937. He preceded her in death after they’d spent 56 years together.

Mrs. Coon began her career with the Good Samaritan Society in Laurens, Iowa, in the 1950s and completed her career with them in Parsons. She was the administrator of the Good Samaritan Center in Parsons from 1964 until her retirement in 1979. The current Good Samaritan Center in Parsons was constructed when Mrs. Coon was the administrator. After retiring, she still served on the Good Samaritan Society’s Advisory Board for many years. She also attended the Good Samaritan Society’s annual meetings for another 30 years. In addition, she was a member and officer of the Parsons Business and Professional Woman’s Club for many years.

Upon retiring from the Good Samaritan Society, Pearl spent the next seven years as the interim administrator of several elder care facilities in Kansas. After that, she taught business management courses at Labette Community College for 10 years. Her teaching career included teaching courses at the Labette Correctional Conservation Camp in Oswego, where she received special recognition from her students.

Mrs. Coon was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church during her 45-year residency in Parsons. Her caring for others and her involvement in multiple charities was part of her day-to-day life. Pearl performed volunteer work for many organizations, including the Labette Center for Mental Health Services, the Parsons Senior Center and Meals on Wheels. She received the “Volunteer of the Year” award in 2009 for performing more than 6,000 hours of volunteer work for Parsons charities.

She enjoyed the excitement of visiting new places and meeting new people. She was fortunate enough to have visited all 50 states, Europe three times and Africa. Pearl was in her 80s when she was invited to join the Blackwood Brothers gospel quartet on a two-week tour of South Africa. Of course, she went.

Her zest for life and willingness to try new things never ended. A couple of her sons acquired a hot air balloon at about the same time she retired. Pearl not only flew in the balloon, but performed arduous crew duties when the team participated in balloon festivals. Pearl’s 90th birthday celebration culminated with her first motorcycle ride, on her grandson’s Harley-Davidson. She also went on a helicopter ride for her 90th birthday, compliments of another grandson.

Pearl is survived by six children, Alan Coon, Diane Pickthall, Marshall Coon, Steve Coon, Kelly Coon and Craig Coon; plus a special daughter-in-law, Sherry Stringer; 28 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and two of her four sisters, Opal Cullen and Doris Fairchild.

A son, Kent Coon, also preceded her in death.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Trinity Lutheran Church, 2931 Crawford, in Parsons.

The family suggests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church in Parsons, the Good Samaritan Society, 709 Leawood Drive, Parsons, or the American Cancer Society.