Debra Ann Coleman

05/03/1951 – 04/25/2012

Debra Ann Coleman who passed away peacefully April 25th at the age of 60 after a brief illness. She was a beautiful person, wife, sister, daughter, friend and an awesome artist that the world has lost too soon. She loved life, people, animals, and flowers that she brought to life with her vivid imagination in her artwork. She shared this love with her wonderful husband, Bob Hanson who collaborated with her and his own photography that they produced and marketed while living in Templeton, California.

She was born in San Bernardino, California to Jack and Imogene Coleman May 3rd, 1951. Her family moved to Merced and finally landed on Del Playa St in Isla Vista in 1960 where she and her sister, Jacqui Coleman spent many hours on the beach and roamed the not yet paved streets while attending Isla Vista Grammar School. She went on to attend Goleta Valley Jr. High and Dos Pueblos Senior High. She left many friends behind when her father accepted a position as Principal of McNally Continuation High School in Newport Beach where Debra graduated her senior year from Newport High School in 1969.

She was an artist from an early age and went on to study at Brooks Art Institute in Santa Barbara and San Miquel Allende Art School, Mexico with her dear friend and cohort, Lisa Freeman(Johnson). Debra continued with her artwork producing fishprints during her years in the commercial fishing world with her first husband, Mike Hulse.

Through the years Debra and her sister Jacqui shared many memorable times together as sisters and best friends. They travelled to art shows marketing her artwork and opened a shop “Tropical Delights” in Historic El Paseo, Santa Barbara selling hand painted clothes and other artwork.

She shared life with her husband Bob and their darling rescue chiuaua “Ricky”. She and Bob had many wonderful trips from hiking the hills in Switzerland to the jungles of Brazil to the banks of Paris cruising down the Seine on a barge with all of her husband Bob’s relatives drinking wine, dancing and having a fabulous time. She loved her RV pad in Palm Springs, golfing and being inspired by the desert beauty.

Her mother Imogene Coleman is devastated at her untimely and sudden passing as is everyone who knew and loved Debra. Debra is survived by her loving husband Bob Hanson, stepdaughter Stephanie Hanson, mother Imogene Coleman, sister Jacqui Coleman and her husband Karl Laubacher, many cousins, relatives and in-laws. She was preceded in death by her father Jack Coleman. She will be terribly missed, but her infectious laugh and warm, fun engaging spirit will live on.

Thank you to Hospice Partners of the Central Coast and Lisa Freeman for making her final days comfortable. There will be a private Celebration of her Life in Avila Beach. Please make any donations to your favorite animal shelter in lieu of flowers.