Roy Wesley Coleman, age 93 and Zelda Eileen Coleman age 82 of Butler, Missouri died Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at their home. Wes was born April 1, 1932 to Roy Calvin and Geneva Bernadine Feighner Coleman in Lisle, Missouri. Zelda was born January 4, 1943 to Garland Leo and Letha Artimacy Allen McKee in Kansas City, Missouri.
Wes, one of three children, grew up Drexel, Missouri where he graduated from Drexel High School. He joined the Air Force during the Korean War and served as a Communications Specialist. Wes married Zelda McKee on May 4, 1957 in Bronaugh, Missouri and to this union four children were born. He moved to Passaic, Missouri where he started a salvage yard and worked in excavating digging graves…by hand, for many years. In 1989, Wes bought a farm in rural Bates County where he and Zelda lived until their passing. Wes and Zelda were members of the Virginia United Methodist Church in Virginia, Missouri. Wes was proud of his ability to play any stringed instrument or accompany other musicians by playing the harmonica.
Zelda, one of five children, lived briefly in Illinois before growing up in Passaic, Missouri. She started elementary school in Passaic at a two-room school before attending grade school in Butler, Missouri. Zelda sold Tupperware for many years, during which time she traveled with the group to the Elvis mansion. She also worked at the Ward Paper Box Company in Butler, at Pizza Hut as a delivery driver and at the Butler Food Pantry and thrift store as a volunteer.
Wes and Zelda were two peas in a pod who were always together. The only time apart was when Zelda was bowling or attending Tupperware parties. They worked hard to provide for the family, surround their children with love and teach them valuable lessons. A favorite pastime was traveling to different cities to square dance–which was how they met. Wes and Zelda also enjoyed traveling with their children and taking trips to Louisiana. Their passing leaves a void in the lives of those who knew and loved them.
Wes and Zelda are survived by two daughters, Trudy Getz (Kris) of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvannia and Nila Stewart of Butler, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Heidi Getz and Karina Keller (Josh) of Pennsylvania, Rhonda Stewart (Mike) of Butler, Missouri, Leif Stewart of Leeton, Missouri, Emily Algaier of Kansas City, Missouri, Seth Eastabrooks (Lauren) of Warrensburg, Missouri, Justin Corbin (Amy Myers) of Burdette, Missouri and Jessica (Coleman) Brown of California; 18 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; three brothers/brothers-in-law, Duane McKee (Betty) of Independence, Missouri, Jerry McKee of Emporia, Kansas and Roger McKee of Carthage, Missouri; two sisters/sisters-in-law, Linda Cole of Passaic, Missouri and Jeannie Barber of Lebannon, Missouri; numerous nephews and nieces; and three “adopted children,” Eddy, Jocelyn and Roselyn. Wes and Zelda were preceded in death by two sons, Kevin and Corwin Coleman; their fathers/fathers-in-law and mothers/mothers-in-law; sister/sister-in-law, Barbara Beck; four nephews; and one great-niece.
