John Coultis, an iconic interior designer, who applied his talents and impeccable taste to a professional practice with an international clientele spanning more than six decades, died at the age of 88 at his home in Wichita on Jan. 23. The only child of John Edgar and Eldora Coultis, John attended local Wichita schools, and the Missouri Military Academy. He was also a graduate of the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City. Unlike many of his fellow Parsons graduates who stayed on in the City, John chose to cast his lot in his own hometown. Over the next half-century and beyond, that proved to be an enormously productive decision for both Wichita and his firm, John Coultis Associates. His passion and skill contributed to making the most of both traditional and emerging contemporary concepts in interior design. Over time, much of the firm's expanding success came from John's personal approach to marketing. Early on he imprinted the firm with a steady focus on research and study, and the first clients were an integral part of the process. He happily gave clients credit for his work. "The best compliments we receive," he once said, "is when those who commission our work receive the credit. When people compliment one of our interiors, we know we have done a good job. That it worked well for the firm's clients, and was seen in the almost countless numbers of homes, offices, banks and businesses throughout the Midwest. That it visibly carried the look and feel of the "Coultis brand." In a very real sense, John Coultis brought a new level of grace, beauty and functionality to the markets he served. The incredible number of different and often challenging interiors that developed from his life and career now give cause to express gratitude for John's unique gifts to the art of interior design. John is survived by his wife, Ruth (Wortman) Coultis; daughter, Bridget (Tom) Thornton (Coultis); sons, Peter, Tim (Marion), Vincent (Susie); grandsons, Brian (Susan) Thornton, Jeff Thornton, Todd (Laurie) Thornton, John Coultis, Matthew (Casey) Coultis; granddaughter, Melissa Coultis; great-grandsons, Cole, Nicolas and Jack Thornton. Funeral services with Military Honors are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 at Old Mission Mortuary Chapel. Memorials to The Friends University Instrumental Music Department and The Wichita Art Museum.