Obituary - Michelle Lynn Coigny

Michelle Lynn Coigny, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away suddenly in her home on June 17, 2023. She was born on August 12th,1953 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Edward West Bevans and Martha Joan Anderson. She graduated high school in Shelbyville, Illinois in 1971. She had five children: Teresa Marie Victorino, Age 48 of Camino, California; Sandoval Ornelas, Age 47 of Kelso, Washington; Anthony Matthew De Leeuw, Age 45 of Lake Elsinore, California; Joshua Allen De Leeuw, Age 43 of Taos, New Mexico; and Amanda Sue Coigny, Age 42 of Butler, Missouri. She was the picture of perseverance, for after years of extreme domestic violence, turmoil, and poverty, Michelle emerged from the dark times, and found success through a career at UPS in 1987. In 1988, this is where she met the love of her life, John Urban Coigny.

He was her savior, her protector, and her god send! They were married on October 21, 1991, and she gained two stepchildren, Jason Phillip Coigny, Age 50 of Taiwan, and Sherri Lynn Coigny, Age 47 of Pikesville, Tennessee. She started her work at UPS as a clerk in the lost packages department before working as a package car driver for 7 years. When her husband, John, retired from UPS in 2004, they relocated to Trinity, Texas where she volunteered at the SAAFE HOUSE helping fellow victims of domestic violence and sexual assault find their way back to freedom from the trauma. She was an inspiration to many women, and she was so proud of being able to help lead them back to themselves, and their children with her story of determination to no longer be victims, instead women of courage and strength. After living in Trinity for six years, her and John decided to move to Mesa, Arizona where she lived until her untimely passing. Her biggest pride and accomplishment came when she graduated, with honors, at the age of 63, from Arizona State University, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2016. She loved keeping up with family and old friends on Facebook, and she was always the first to put a “heart”, or a “like,” followed by a positive or witty comment.

She was proceeded in death by her father, Edward West Bevans; Mother, Martha Joan Anderson; Stepmother Barbara Bevans; Brothers, John Nelson and Jonathan Andrew Wakeland. She is survived by her grandchildren: Ashton and Nathan Coigny, Julianna Victorino, Raven Ornelas, Anthony De Leeuw, Julius Varns, Paige De Leeuw, and Benjamin De Leeuw; siblings: Karen Bevans of Butler, Missouri; Mark Bevans of Sun City, California; and Douglas Bevans of Nolensville, Tennessee. Nieces: Elizabeth Kisner, Rebecca Bevans, Ormetta Wakeland, and Isabella Hall; Nephews: Lee, Seth, and Jedadiah Robey; and Clint, Matthew, and Blake Bevans.

A private celebration of life will be had by her family. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: House of Refuge, Inc., 6935 E. Williams Field Road, Mesa, AZ 85212.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nationalcremation.com/location/phoenix for the Coigny family.