Elaine Saunders Koonce, 88, of Palm Coast, entered the sunset of life on Sunday, December 18, 2022 at AdventHealth, Palm Coast. Elaine Saunders Koonce, the daughter of George and Winnie Saunders, was born Tuesday, June 19,1934 in Brooklyn, New York. She was educated in the New York City School System. She met and married the love of her life, Mr. Clarence Koonce. They courted in the mean streets of Bedford Stuyvesant (Do or Die), Brooklyn, New York. They were blessed to share a union of 40 years (October 27, 1962), which was a great year.

She was employed by the New York City Sanitation Department. Elaine and Clarence relocated to the beautiful city of Palm Coast in 1988 (when there was only 1 stop light). She would always talk about how Palm Coast was at that time. She loved traveling, entertaining and playing Bridge. She was an avid board gamer, but her passion was going to the Casino. She loved it and she was lucky.

If she loved you, she loved you. If she didn't, she would jokingly let you know with a smile. Elaine always spoke her mind and was a strongly opinionated woman. Elaine loved her church and politics. Elaine had a brilliant mind until the very end and she was a fighter.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded into paradise by her husband, Clarence Koonce; brothers, George Saunders Jr, Milton Saunders, Sylvester Saunders; 2 sisters; stepdaughter, Renee Koonce-Barnes; stepsons, Bobby Koonce and Kenneth Koonce.

She leaves to cherish her memories: son, James Barnes; stepdaughter-in-law, Rhea Koonce; step grandchildren, step nieces and nephews and a host of other close friends and Palm Coast family; including special friends, Gloria Singleton, Chenita Johnson and Cora Green.