Coy Pullara, a psychotherapist who served the communities of Abilene and Brownwood for over thirty years, has died in Abilene. She was 79. A service is scheduled for 1:00 pm Thursday July 22, 2010 at Piersall Benton Chapel, 733 Butternut St. A visitation with the family will be held Wednesday from 5-7pm at the funeral home.
Her daughter, Michele Allen, said she died from complications of ovarian cancer that was originally diagnosed in 2004. Mrs. Pullara had continued her private practice in Clinical Social Work on a full time basis from 1984 until six weeks ago.
A passionate advocate for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, Mrs. Pullara was instrumental in creating the Noah Project in both Abilene and Brownwood. She volunteered her time, talent and money to establish these safe havens for victims of family violence. She worked side-by-side with Diane Mehaffey, the first Executive Director, to create Abilene’s first battered women’s shelter (1980).Mrs. Pullara was a member of the Brownwood-based Noah Project Board of Directors (1984-1991); served as its Outreach Coordinator (1984-1991); and directed the Brownwood-based Noah Project Family Violence and Trauma Outreach Center for five counties (1984 through 1993). She was instrumental in securing the Project’s first United Way grant (1986) and in persuading the Brownwood Housing Authority to provide a duplex that was that community’s first shelter (1986).
In an effort to reduce the causes of abuse she conducted court-ordered group therapy with sexual offenders. Asked if she felt safe working with men who had been convicted of predatory conduct the diminutive social worker dismissed the concern. “I am completely safe,” she said. “My clients love me and they would never let anything happen to me.”
Mrs. Pullara was committed to professionalism in Social Work and sought to enrich the practice by improving education and legislation. She served as Associate Professor at Abilene Christian University (1978-1985) and, while there, steered that nascent Bachelor-level Social Work program to national accreditation. She was Director of the accredited Program for two years (1983-1985). She successfully lobbied the Texas Legislature to enact a Social Work Certification law in the early 1980’s and represented Texas social workers in writing a national model Social Work Licensing Bill.
An active member of the Texas Society for Clinical Social Workers since 1984, Mrs. Pullara had served that organization as President and Treasurer. In addition, she had been appointed Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee (1990-2001) and Managed Care Committee (1990-1992). At the time of her death she was co-chair of the Membership Committee.
Mrs. Pullara was vigorous in promoting continuing professional education for Social Workers. Under the auspices of the Texas Society she organized numerous conferences. She scoured the country to find speakers who could enhance the quality and effectiveness of social work in Texas.
The widow of a highly decorated rescue helicopter pilot, Mrs. Pullara was a life-long supporter of those in military service. Men and women in uniform who dined near her in a restaurant would routinely discover that their check had been paid by the quiet woman sitting at the other table.
Mrs. Pullara used her life experiences and professional education to assist other widows in reconstructing their lives after the loss of a spouse. She conducted annual Widows’ Seminars at the Central Church of Christ in Wichita, Kansas (1982-1997). She provided a healing mix of education, group therapy and individual counseling that helped a generation of women process life-altering loss.
Mrs. Pullara was selected twice – in 1983 and again in 1998 – as Abilene’s Social Worker of the Year. In 2000 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Abilene Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
Coy Elizabeth Hughes was born near Wolfforth, Texas on December 6, 1930. The youngest of eleven children, she grew up on a dusty cotton farm. After graduation from Wolfforth High School she attended Draughon’s Business College. She subsequently met and married Angelo Pullara, a dashing young cadet at Reece Air Force Base. After his graduation from flight school the young couple moved to Japan as a part of the military. While there Mrs. Pullara gave birth to her two children, Michele and Michael. Like many military wives, she moved regularly – San Antonio, Reno, Scotsdale, Fort Walton Beach, Lubbock.
In 1967 Angelo was killed in Laos while attempting to rescue a downed Air Force pilot. A widow with two young children, she moved the family to Searcy, Arkansas. In 1968 she enrolled in Harding College. While there she helped create the White County Mental Health Center. She graduated from Harding with a Bachelors in Social Work in 1973 and immediately enrolled in the University of Arkansas Graduate School of Social Work. She received her Masters in Social Work from UA in 1975. After graduation and before coming to Abilene she was the Director of the Day Hospital and clinician at the Adult Unit, Southeast Arkansas Mental Health Center (1975-1978). She enrolled in a PhD program with the International Conference for Social Work and (as of 1988) was ABD in Psychodynamic/Clinical Social Work.
Mrs. Pullara is survived by her daughter, Michele Allen of Midland; her son, Michael Pullara of Houston; her grandson, Eric Allen of Midland; and numerous sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Dr. Rosa Hughes spoke on behalf of her many friends and colleagues. “Coy was the Dean of the Abilene Social Workers. She was a great and remarkable woman. And she will be missed.”
Coy Pullara was never victimized by her cancer. After diagnosis she continued to practice her profession, to advocate her passions, and to love her family, friends and clients. She continued to travel the world including a visit to the Nigeria. She had – as a new widow in 1967 – endowed the construction of the first wing at the Nigerian Christian Hospital in honor of husband, Angelo Pullara. In 2007 she visited for the first time and was welcomed as the “little grandmother” by the Nigerians whose lives she had touched. When anxious family members tried to dissuade her from going on such a journey in her condition she replied, “Everybody dies. Not everybody lives.”
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in the name of Coy Pullara to the IHCF African Christian Hospital, 102 N Locust St, Searcy, AR 72143. As per Coy’s wishes, these gifts will be used specifically for the “Widows Fund” serving widows in Southeast Nigeria. Online gifts may be made through the website www.ihcf.net.
