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Maurene Gayle Mast Coan is a native of Flossmoor, Illinois, and the daughter of Maurene June Frey and Casper Leo Mast, Jr. Gayle’s maternal grandfather was a 32nd degree Mason and also a Commander of the Englewood Commandery in Chicago. He became a dedicated genealogist in his fifties and gave the family the groundwork for not only joining genealogical organizations, but also the names for further research. Gayle is married to Thomas Donald Coan, Jr. They reside in Flossmoor, Illinois, in the home built by her parents.

Mrs. Coan attended the University of Colorado and graduated with a B. A. degree in Education. Returning to her childhood school, Gayle taught at the Flossmoor Junior High School. In addition to being the head of the math department, she completed many hours of advanced education. Since retiring from teaching, she continues to do data entry work for the district periodically throughout the year.

Gayle and Don enjoy many shared interests including travel, reading, gardening, and genealogical research.

Memberships

  • National Gavel Society
  • Colonial Dames of America (Chapter XIV)
  • Descendants of Sheriffs & Constables of Colonial & Antebellum America (Founder; Honorary President General)
  • Plymouth Hereditary Society (Former Governor General)
  • Hereditary Order Descendants Loyalists and Patriots of the American Revolution (Governor General)
  • Hereditary Order of the Family of Presidents and First Ladies (Vice President General)
  • Order of the Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (Recording Secretary General)
  • National Society Dames of the Court of Honor (First Vice President General; Organizing Secretary General; Illinois State Past President)
  • Hereditary Order of the First Families of Massachusetts (Marshal General)
  • Order of the First Families of New Hampshire (Former Founding Marshal General)
  • First Families of Connecticut (Deputy Governor General, Charter Member)
  • National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims (National Co-Chair Credentials; Illinois Branch Honorary Governor; Former Illinois Branch Recording Secretary; Former Organizing Corresponding Secretary)
  • National Society Daughters of the Union 1861-1865 (Chapter Historian)
  • Order of the First Families of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
  • National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
  • National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century
  • National Society New England Women (National Chairman of Veteran Activities)
  • Illinois Cameo Society
  • Flagon and Trencher, Descendants of Colonial Tavern Keepers
  • Order of Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Chirurgiens (Corresponding Secretary General)
  • Sons and Daughters of the Colonial and Antebellum Bench & Bar 1565-1861 (Charter Member)
  • Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars (Illinois State Governor; Former Organizing Chaplain)
  • National Society Colonial Daughters Seventeenth Century, Inc.
  • First Families of the Twin Territories
  • Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen (Charter Member, Master Guilder)
  • National Society United States Daughters of 1812 (Chapter Recording Secretary)
  • Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry
  • National Society Sons and Daughters of Antebellum Planters 1607-1861
  • Winthrop Society
  • Sons and Daughters of the Province and Republic of West Florida
  • Descendants of Old Plymouth Colony
  • Presidential Families of America (Illinois Representative)
  • National Order of the Blue and Gray
  • National Society Descendants of Early Quakers
  • National Society Daughters of American Colonists
  • Jamestowne Society
  • Hereditary Order of Descendants of Colonial Governors
  • Dutch Colonial Society
  • Descendants American House of Burgesses 1619-1699 (Charter Member)
  • Registry of Infamous & Famous Relatives in American Families
  • United Daughters of the Confederacy (Chapter Charter Member)
  • Hereditary Society of Teachers
  • Sons and Daughters of Virginia Founding Fathers (Charter Member)
  • Ladies of the Grand Old Army of the Republic
  • Descendants of Fossors 1607-1860 (Charter Member)
  • Descendants of Cape Cod and Islands (Charter Member)
  • Descendants of American Prisoners of War

Other Notes

Gayle is a member of Saint John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Flossmoor. She organized and heads a retirement group of teachers from her school district. She is a member of the Annual Illinois Heritage Weekend Planning Committee; a Chi Omega Sorority Alumni donor; Director’s Club member of the University of Colorado Alumni Group; a member of the Smithsonian Museum; a Founder Member and donor of the Williamsburg Foundation; a Historic Gettysburg-Adams’s County donor; a Civil War Preservation Trust donor; a National Trust donor for the preservation of historic sites, a USO donor; and a member of the Underhill Society.

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