Her obituary:
Lenoir News-Topic, date unknownJames and Rachel spent their first 15 years or so in Caldwell Co. before moving to Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., OH. James worked for sometime at the Willard Storage Co. as a "battery worker." Most of their children also went to work at an early age to help support the family. In 1920 Collet, age 21, reported that he was unemployed. Fred, age 17, worked as a deliveryman for a retail grocer; Clarence, age 16, worked as a stenographer in an auto factory while Frances, age 23, worked as a general clerk in an advertising office.
Coffey Rites Set Friday
Funeral services for Mrs. Rachel Elizabeth Robbins Coffey, 80, of Chicago, Ill., and Lenoir, who died Tuesday in Chicago following an extended illness, will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at Central Advent Christian Church. Officiating will be the pastor, the Rev. W. F. Preslar, and interment will be in Belleview Cemetery. The body will not lay in state.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Bernard Olson, Robert Olson, Grayson Annas, Hal Sherill, Wallace Clontz and Deitz Rudisill.
Born March 19, 1878 in Caldwell County, Mrs. Coffey was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Pickens Robbins. Her husband, James L. Coffey, died in 1941. She was a charter member of Central Advent Christian Church and a member of the local chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.
Surviving are a daughter, three sons, nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, four brothers and two sisters.
I'm not sure that the census taker didn't make a mistake and transpose the occupations of Clarence and Frances.
In 1930 James was still in the watchman business but worked for a hardware company in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. Collett was married by then and was an accountant at Nut and Boles - whatever that might be. Frances Reid Coffey, his wife, was also a member of the family. Also in the family was William P. Frye, the husband of Frances Amelia, and their two children, Helen and Mary. Frances Amelia was not enumerated and perhaps was deceased.
Collett Columbus died in Jan., 1917 in Catawba Co.
His obituary:
Unnamed, undated newspaperI have not found any further information on Fred and Clarence.
Collet C. Coffey, 80, formerly of Lenoir, died today in a Hickory hospital.
He was born Nov. 30, 1899, in Caldwell County, a son of the late James and Rachel Robbins Coffey.
He was the retired office administrator at Appalachian State University, a deacon and elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Boone, and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Lenoir.
Survivors include his wife, two daughters, 11 grand-children, a great-grandchild, plus two aunts and many cousins in Lenoir.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Boone.
Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you can add to or correct any of this information.
