Margaret Lisa Coombe

Margaret Lisa Coombe (May 29, 1953 – November 9, 2025)

Margaret Lisa Coombe, 72, of Ellenville, NY, passed away peacefully at home on November 9, 2025, surrounded by her family after a long battle with dementia.

Margaret was born in Troy, NY, on May 29, 1953, to Harold and Dorothy Beatty. She spent most of her youth in Red Hook, NY, where she attended local schools. She went on to attend SUNY Oneonta, graduating in May 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree, and subsequently worked as a Veterinary Technician for Dr. Hammond in Hyde Park, NY. Margaret later furthered her education at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It was there, while completing work-study credits in the Cornell cow barns, that she met her future husband, Philip. Upon Phil’s graduation, Margaret decided to leave Cornell to pursue a career in teaching.

Margaret and Phil settled in Grahamsville, NY, where Phil’s family maintained a working farm. After they married, Margaret began her career as a science teacher at Fallsburg High School. She simultaneously attended SUNY New Paltz at night, earning her Master’s in Education in 1984.

A dedicated and passionate educator, Margaret treasured her impact on the many students she taught during her tenure at Fallsburg High School. She taught biology, chemistry, and physics, and was known for devoting her time to after-hours tutoring and SAT preparation. Margaret kept a wide range of pets—from house cats and dogs to dozens of horses—but she was also famous for the unconventional animals she kept in her classroom. Her exhibits included lizards, a tarantula, cockroaches, snails, crabs, frogs, toads, tadpoles, and rodents. Her appreciation for life in all its varying forms highlighted her lifelong passion for nature.

Riding and caring for horses was a central theme of Margaret’s life. Living on the farm allowed her to raise many horses over the years, including a foal she cared for from birth. She worked at numerous horse shows and participated in competitive long-distance trail rides, as well as trips throughout Vermont with one of her best friends and mother-in-law, Carolyn Coombe.

A faithful Christian, Margaret regularly attended church and taught Sunday School for more than 10 years. She was an active member of the community, helping with fundraising dinners, weekly services, and organizing the annual Christmas show.

Margaret was extremely proud of her two children. Together with Phil, she worked tirelessly to ensure they were well-educated, appreciated the beauty of the world, and treated others with respect and empathy. She was a hands-on mother who ensured homework was done and practices were attended, but also played games, went for nature walks, and simply enjoyed the company of her family. She was a kind and supportive mother, teacher, partner, and friend, and she is and will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her loving and devoted sons, John Philip Coombe (Jacqueline) and Alan George Coombe (Beata); her grandchildren, George, Henry, and Genevieve Coombe (children of John and Jackie), and Aurelia and Alexander Coombe (children of Alan and Beata); her former husband, Philip Coombe III, sisters Ann Tipple and Jane White (Doug), brother John Beatty (Barbara), and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The family is very grateful to her caregivers, Edith Halmagyi and Beata Coombe, who provided support through her final years. We also thank those who have shown their love through meals, visits, calls, cards, flowers, and prayers.

A period of visitation will be held on Saturday, December 6, starting at 1:00 PM at the Grahamsville Reformed Church, followed by a brief burial service. A time of reflection and refreshments will follow at Memorial Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Grahamsville Reformed Church (PO Box 238, Grahamsville, NY 12740) or the Daniel Pierce Library (PO Box 268, Grahamsville, NY).

Cremation and funeral arrangements have been provided by Loucks Funeral Home Ellenville, NY  www.loucksfuneralhome.com 845-647-4343