Thelma Louise Coss

Thelma Louise Coss, born June 26, 1946 in Akron, Ohio passed away peacefully at her home in the Portage Lakes April 14, 2026.

Thelma was a caring and artistic person who spent most of her life helping children and families in Summit and Stark counties.

She was a speech coach at Copley High School for 26 years. Besides coaching, she occasionally accompanied students to state and national tournaments. As a member of the National Forensics League, she earned her degree of Merit in 1991.

Thelma was involved with the Weathervane Community Playhouse for many decades both on stage and behind the scenes running props, sound or lights. She was the president of the Women’s Board twice, from 1987 to 1989 and 2003 to 2005. She won a Chanticleer award as a co-designer for Best Properties and Set Dressing, 1986-1987 Season, “Brighton Beach Memoirs”. As a spectator, Thelma enjoyed going to the Weathervane Community Playhouse, Coach House Theater, Porthouse Theater, and the Ohio Shakespeare Festival, as well as attending live music events. Some of her favorites are Bob Dylan, Crystal Bowersox, Hunter Skeens and the Forerunners, “The Phantom of the Opera”, and “The Man of La Mancha”

Thelma was a competitive lady and loved flat track motorcycle racing. As the founder of TLC Racing, she supported the career of her son Ian for 20 years. In 1991 he won the AMA Grand National Championship Rookie of the Year. Before that career ended, he became a National Number and was 22nd in the country twice. Thelma used her writing skills to prepare a press release for local media after each event.

Thelma attended Buchtel High School in Akron and graduated in 1964. She was a member of Glee Club, Drama Club, and a contributor for the Talon. She was also a member of the Quill and Scroll, an International Honorary Society for High School Journalists and was inducted into the National Honor Society.

Thelma was a lover of animals, dogs and cats, she had two squirrel monkeys, one named Kong and the other, Edith Anne.

In 2025 Thelma had one of her poems published in the “Ohio Bards Poetry Anthology. 2025” and this year another one was published in the 2026 volume.

She attended the University of Akron and earned a B.A. in Sociology (Social Worker Certificate) in 1971, while being a single mother. In 1983 she completed an M.A. in School Psychology. Thelma held licenses for both Professional Councilor and Social Worker.

Thelma began her career in the child and family service field in 1972 and continued through 1982 at Summit County Children Services Board as a social worker.

She spent 29 years at Child and Adolescent Behavior Health in Canton, Ohio performing various roles as Client Rights Officer, Privacy Officer, and as she referred to it, “HIPAA Queen” from 1987 to 2016.

From 1995 to 2018 Thelma was a part-time faculty member at the University of Akron. She taught classes in Multiple System Case Management for Children and Families, provided a training series for Head Start in Akron, and presented workshops in Case Management.

Thelma was preceded in death by her father, Robert Reeves Hays, and mother, Thelma Louise Eppley.

Thelma is survived by her husband of 44 years, Jim, her son Ian Segedy of Paracas, Peru and his wife Diana. She is also survived by five grandchildren Brian Segedy, Nicholas Pradel, Nathan Segedy, Michael Segedy, and Dylan Segedy and a great-grandson Sebastion Ruff.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Adams Mason Funeral Home (330)535-9186