Sally (Stevie) Cote of Dearborn Michigan passed away on Sunday June 6 ^, 2021 with her husband Frank at her side as he has been for 41 years. In addition to her husband Frank Cote, she is survived by her sister Mary Ann Rule (Don), brother Tom Spilker, daughter Kelley Karbal (Stuart), sons Jeff and Michael Bann, son Frank Cote (Karen), daughter Becky Hoover (Douglas), son Joe Cote, son Bret Cote (Shannon), grandchildren Muriel and Natalie (A.J.), Allison (Anthony), Samantha (Chris), Maryanna, Sean (Kim), Dan (Holly), Mike, Nicole, Adrian, Ryan, and Gavin, Alexander, Carly(Adam), Seth (Alex), seven great grandchildren, cousins Rosi Ferrall (Craig), ), Ann Gracie Curry (Jim); Jane Gracie-Belvins and Sara Wright Stone (Jay). She was preceded in death by son Mathew Cote, grandson Jacob Bann, granddaughter Leah Bann, and her parents Norman and Nancy Spilker.

Born in Huntington West Virginia, she earned her bachelor's degree in math from the University of Kentucky. While working at the Ford Motor Company she earned her master's degree in business from the University of Detroit. At Ford she met and married Frank, the love or her life. She retired from Ford in 1999, after an illustrious 30 year career that saw her become one of the first female I.T. executives in the company. She was also instrumental in the launch of the very first intranet system at Ford.

Stevie will be remembered for her love of animals and particularly cats. She dedicated many of her off-work hours prior to retirement, and nearly all her time afterward advocating for animal welfare in the Metro Detroit area. In 1996 she founded the Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter, which continues to thrive to this day thanks to her and the many committed volunteers. She loved to golf, garden, take care of her animals, and most of all spend time with family. She loved with compassion and passion, knitting friends into family and caring for a family tree with grafted branches into a cohesive loving crazy group.  She was always available to listen and give gentle advice if asked.  Her legacy will be the love of her family and the care and compassion she showed to all living creatures.  She loved many and was loved by many and will be missed deeply.

In lieu of flowers, Stevie would appreciate donations to the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit in Dearborn MI.

https://www.metrodetroitanimals.org

Stevie's Celebration of Life is going to held on June 25 starting at 11:00AM until around 3:00 with a buffet lunch served. The venue is:
Park Place Catering
23400 Park Street
Dearborn
313-274-4499

We hope you can all make the celebration because each and everyone of you are family.  For our planning, a courtesy of a reply if you are able to come with the number in your party is greatly appreciated.  Please reply to Mary Ann Rule (sister) at mamasters@aol.com or Becky Hoover (daughter) at beckyhoover@comcast.net.