Emma Viola Coffey

Corrected Information

Emma Viola Coffey was the sister of Lee Ella Coffey who married William Washington Collins. She was born Nov. 2, 1888 in Caldwell Co. Emma is thought to have died in about 1987, a year or so shy of her 100th birthday.

She married Emory Joel Young Dec. 28, 1907 in Watauga Co. Emory was born Apr. 4, 1882 and died Mar. 14, 1929 in North Carolina.

Emma and Emory had at least six children:

Charles Howell, born Sep. 26, 1910

Mary Lou, born Apr. 2, 1913, died 2000

Thomas Wood, born Nov. 25, 1915

Emery Hugh, born Oct. 25, 1917

Hardin Darrell, born Jul. 3, 1920

Rawleigh Edgar, born Oct. 7, 1922

Mary Lou's obituary, probably from the local Watauga Democrat or Blowing Rocket newspaper, reads:

Mrs. Suddreth

Mrs. Mary Lou Young Suddreth, age 87, of 1471 Payne Branch Road, Blowing Rock, widow of John T. "Jay" Suddreth, died Saturday, September 23 at Blowing Rock Hospital.

Mrs. Suddreth was born April 2, 1913 in the Shull's Mills community of Watauga County, a daughter of the late Emory Joel and Emma Viola Coffey Young. She was a retired weaver from Goodwin Weavers in Blowing Rock, and a member of the Perkinsville Baptist Church in Boone.

Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Shoemake of Blowing Rock; two granddaughters, Michele Shoemake of Lakewood, Colorado and Emma Louise russell of Sunrise, Florida; three grandsons, Doyle Shoemake of Lakeland, Florida; Richard Shoemake and Joseph Shoemake, both of Blowing Rock; and one brother, Hugh Young and wife Florence, of Monetta, South Carolina. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Suddreth was preceded in death by six brothers; Howard, Charlie, Thomas, Hardin, Edgar and Wesley Young.

Graveside services were conducted on Tuesday morning at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock. Officiating were the Rev. Vance Triplett and the Rev. David Austin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Hampton Funeral Service of Boone was in charge of the arrangements.

Photo courtesy Margaret Coffey Farley