Sgt. Shelley Carl Coffey, US Army

Shelley Carl Coffey
Military Marker

Shelley Carl Coffey, born c1923 in Knox Co., TN to Luther Lafayette and Jean Ruth Sands Coffey.  He enlisted in the US Army in Georgia at Fort Oglethorpe on Nov. 9, 1942 and died on Apr. 15, 1945 while serving in Europe with Co. 4, 59th Armored Infantry Battalion, 13th Armored Division.  He was buried with other Americans who lost their life during the liberation of The Netherlands at the Netherlands American Cemetery in the village of Margraten, just outside of Maastricht in the southern part of that country.

Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, The Netherlands

Shelley was the third of five children born to Luther and Jean. Edith was the eldest, born c1916.  She married Harold B. Jordan on Feb. 14, 1938 in Anderson Co., TN. They resided near her parents in Knoxville, Knox Co., TN at the Apr., 1940 census and had no children at the time.

Marjorie followed Edith on Jul. 25, 1919 in Knox Co.  She married Woodrow O. Chambers in Anderson Co. on Oct. 23, 1937.  In 1940 they lived with Woodrow's parents in Knoxville. Later, they had at least two children; Brenda and Gail.

The fourth child born was Nola Pearl, born Jan. 5, 1925 in Knox Co., died Sep. 10, 1981. She is said to have married Robert Hensley but I have not found a marriage record. They had at least one child, a son, Robert, Jr.

Their fifth child was Etta, born Mar. 16, 1927. She was still living with her parents in 1940 and I do not know who she married.

Shelley then was the only son,  and wasn't married when he was killed, thus leaving Luther's line daughtered out.

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The photos were provided by Brent Coffey and remain his property. Do not copy without permission.

John D. Coffey

John D. Coffey - the "D" may stand for David or Davis - was a son of Ananias and Jane Hindman Coffey. He was born Sep. 16, 1821* in KY and married Sarepta (var.) Chambers on Nov. 30, 1852.**  John is said to have died in 1859, but likely a bit earlier.  Sarepta married for a second time on Oct. 30, 1859 to Berry Coomer, born c1818 in Stokes Co., NC.  This couple remained in Adair Co. before moving to Cumberland Co. in 1900.

Sarepta and John D. had three children, all born in Adair Co.:

Coffey-Hurt Marriage Record #1

Coffey-Hurt Marriage Record #2

John W. was born Sep. 12, 1853, married Millie Hurt on Jan. 21, 1878 in Edmonton, Metcalfe Co., KY.  Millie was born Jan. 3, 1849 in KY and died in Cumberland Co. on Jun. 18, 1927.  John died on Aug. 1, 1935 in the Cole Camp Pct. of Cumberland Co.  Both are buried at White Hill Baptist Church Cemetery near Burkesville in Cumberland Co. The family appeared in the 1900 through the 1930 (John was then a widower) census but, I have been unable to find them in 1880.  I believe they had at least five children:  William D., born Apr., 1880, who remained unmarried and with his father until John died; James D., Jennie M., Winnie J., and Mary S.  I have not found any marriage records for the children.

Julia Coffey Marriage Record

Julia Ann, born Dec. 5, 1855, married George A. McKinney on Jan. 6, 1880 in Columbia Co.  George was born in KY in Aug., 1842.  Their children were George L., Leonard J., Sarepta P., and Lydia B.  There could also be more that I have not yet found.  They were in Columbia in 1880 and Gradyville in 1900, both places in Adair Co.

Third and last child was Lloyd M., born Mar. 21, 1857, died 1910 in Cumberland Co.  He married Julia A. Lacy c1883.  They had only one child that lived to adulthood; Ellis M., born c1895 in Cumberland Co.  Julia, born Apr., 1856 in KY, died on May 23, 1928 in that county.  Both she and Lloyd are buried at the West Fork Cemetery in Cumberland Co.






Sarah Chambers Coffey Coomer had several more children with Berry but I have not yet tracked them down.

Updates and corrections are appreciated.

Jack

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*Coffey Cousins Newsletter, Vol. 44, Sep., 1991, Page 13 citing the the Coffey-Hindman Bible then in possession of Mrs. Clara Gowen; pub. 1790 in Edinburg by Mark and Charles Kerr, His Majesty's printers. Copied by James O. Gowen, Oct. 2, 1978


**Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records, Microfilm (1852-1919), roll #994037-994058, KY Department of Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY; Name: John D Coffey Age: 31 Est. Birth Year: abt 1821 Residence: Russell Spouse Name: Sarpety Chambers Spouse Age: 23 Est. Spouse Birth Year: abt 1829 Spouse Birth Location: Barren Marriage Date: 30 Nov 1852 Marriage Location: Adair County of Record: Adair

William Harrison & Sara Zerilda "Relda" Coffey Parmley

Sara Zerilda "Relda" Coffey, born Dec. 28, 1858 in Monticello, Wayne Co., KY, died of cancer on Sep. 9, 1940 in Kingsville, Kleberg Co., TX, was the daughter of Andrew Jackson and Martha Jane Spann Coffey.

"Relda" was the wife of William Harrison Parmley to whom she was married on Aug. 18, 1880. William was born Sep. 13, 1858 in Wayne Co., KY and according to his death certificate died on Jan. 10, 1933 in Kingsville.

William is buried at Chamberlain Cemetery in Kingsville, and "Relda" is presumed to be there as well.

Their children were:

Robert Edward, born in Texas, died Nov., 1955, place unknown. He was a resident of Guadalupe Co., NM when he registered for the draft on Sep. 12, 1918. In that record he was reported to be of medium height and build with gray eyes and light colored hair. He was then a self-employed stock raiser and farmer, age 36, born Jun. 26, 1882. He lived with his wife, Vada C. Parmley in Pastura, Guadalupe Co. In 1920 he was residing with his family in Vaughn, Guadalupe Co. In that census he reported his place of birth as Kansas.

Update: Sep. 22, 2012:  Robert Married Nevada "Vada" Webb, c1903.  She was born Apr. 21, 1882 in AR and died Sep. 30, 1933 in Bryan Co., OK.  She is buried at  Bennington Cemetery, Bennington Bryan Co., OK.  Robert married a second time to a lady named Laura, married name probably Chambers.  In 1940 the family lived in Bryan Co. and there were two Chambers boys living in the household as "boarders."

Lenora, born Aug. 12, 1884 in Texas, died Nov. 20, 1884.

Charles Leroy, born in Nocona, Montague Co., TX, died Jun. 14, 1980 in Wood Co., TX. He registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917 in Union Co., NM. He was of medium height with slender build, blue eyes and brown hair. He was 30 years old, born Jun. 4, 1887. He listed his residence then as Centerville, NM where he farmed. He was unmarried at the time of registration. He is said to have married and divorced Minnie Lee Conckle between 1908 and 1910.

Thaddeus McCall was born in Bonita, Montague Co. He married Lizzie Williams on May 28, 1915, probably in Hartley Co., TX where he registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917. He was also of medium height and build with gray eyes and brown hair. He was 26 years old, born Jun. 28, 1891 in Nocona. He was married with one child, and a resident then of Channing, TX where he was a stock man. According to his death certificate, Thaddeus died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Wichita Co., TX on May 12, 1941. He was buried at Dumas in Moore Co., TX.

William Frank, born Oct., 1892 in Texas, died Jun. 6, 1982. He married Ella Pearl Parman of Missouri in March, 1914. No other information.

Manna Netta, born Jun., 1896 in TX, died Nov. 5, 1930 in California. Married John Hamilton. No other information.

Update Sep. 22, 2012:  John Tomlinson and Manna Neta were married in 1920.  He was born Jan. 28, 1897 in GA and died in San Bernandino Co., CA on Jan. 25, 1980.  Manna died Nov. 5, 1930 in CA.  After Manna died, John remarried to a lady named Madeline M., born c1892 in PA.  No further info.

Dosia Ann, born Oct., 16, 1897 in TX, died Jan. 5, 1994 in Kleberg Co., TX. She apparently died unmarried since her death is recorded as Dosia Parmley.

Update Sep. 22, 2012:  She was unmarried and lived with her mother in Kleberg Co., TX in May, 1940.

Lula Serilda, born Aug. 14, 1899, probably in TX, died Jan. 12, 1984. She married Frank John Elzik on Jun. 24, 1922 in Kleberg. He was born Jan. 10, 1901 and died Jun. 20, 1967. 

Update Sep. 22, 2012:  Lula and Frank had at least two children:  Frank, Jr., born Aug. 1, 1923 in Kleberg Co., died there on Jul. 6, 1973 and was buried at Chamberlain Cemetery in Kingsville, Kleberg Co.  Their second child was Wilma Jean, born Mar. 24, 1926.  No further information on her.

Andrew Jackson Coffey was born c1825 in Wayne Co., KY and died Oct. 25, 1899 in Montague Co., TX.  He and Martha Jane were married on Jan. 8, 1850 in Wayne Co.  She was born c1834 in Wayne Co., and died there c1876.  Andrew was a son of Nathaniel and Louisa Durham Coffey.  Nathan was a son of Joel who was a son of James and Elizabeth Cleveland Coffey.  James was a son of John Coffey and Jane Graves.

Elizabeth Cleveland is said by some to have been a daughter of Edward Coffey and Grace Cleveland; Edward being a brother to John.  I've seen no proof of this.

Both Edward and John were sons of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.

Corrections and/or additions can be sent to me at the above e-mail address.