Margaret Josephine Coffey Farley (1936-2012)

Margaret Josephine Coffey

I first met Margaret when she wrote to me some years ago, offering information about her Coffey family of western North Carolina.  I soon learned that Margaret knew more about Coffey families in that part of the state than just her immediate ancestry.  She once sent to me a large box of newspaper articles, and some very old and yellowed obituaries and photos that she had collected over the years. She included photos of her family and stories that only someone who had lived them could relate.  Margaret was very proud of her family and never missed an opportunity to tell me about her brothers who had served so proudly in the Marine Corps, and her several sisters who had preceded her in death.

She loved North Carolina and especially the western part in Watauga and Caldwell counties. She often talked of Coffeys Gap, the people who lived there and, their old home places that no longer exist.

She was the third of seven children born to Clayton McDonald "Mack" and Lany Esther McCroskey Coffey, born Apr. 27, 1936 in Princeton, Mercer Co., WV.  She married twice, first to Kinney Eugene Ellis and second to Vivian Edward Farley, Jr. in 1972.  Mr. Farley died in Princeton in 1976 and Margaret never remarried.

A few years ago my wife and I were returning to Louisiana from a Coffey Cousins' reunion in VA and decided to go visit with Margaret in Winston-Salem.  She welcomed us with a home cooked meal and we got to meet Steve.  She gave us a tour of her modest home, filled with antiques and other treasures that she had collected over her lifetime.

We had remained in contact on Facebook and e-mail.  Now and again she would send me obituaries that she had found on line about Coffeys and related families in western NC.

I will miss her very much.

Her obituary:

Margaret C. Farley Posted Date: December 13, 2012

(April 27, 1936 - December 13, 2012)

Margaret Coffey Farley, age 76, of West Acadia Avenue, Winston-Salem, and formerly of Blowing Rock, went to be with her Lord and Savior Thursday, December 13, 2012.

Born April 27, 1936 in Princeton, WV, she was the daughter of the late Clayton McDonald and Esther McCroskey Coffey. Margaret was a devoted and loving wife, a good sister, and a wonderful aunt and friend to everyone.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Farley; sisters, Bertha Mae Akers, Nellie Aileen Coffey; and brothers, James Edward, Lonnie Ray, and Clayton Coffey.

Mrs. Farley is survived by survived by her special nephew, Steve Coffey; sister, Gladys Virginia Coffey Bailey; six step-children; eleven step-grandchildren; four step-great grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy McBride, and Jewell Nelson and husband, Charles. A number of nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces, and special little ones 'Waylon' and Justin.

Services to celebrate the life of Margaret Coffey Farley will be conducted Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 2 PM at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Rev. Max West. The family will receive friends Sunday from 1 until 2 o'clock at Austin & Barnes.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at the website austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Farley family.

Rest in peace Margaret.  Your earthly work is over and it is now time to rejoice in that place which Jesus has prepared for you.

Jack