Dell Carlton and Mary Jane Bodenhamer Coffey

Dell was the third of 12 children and third son of William Luther and Mary Salome Moretz Coffey. He was born Jul. 1, 1875 in Watauga Co., and died there on Jun. 4, 1963. Mary Jane was born Apr. 18, 1876 in Yadkin Co., NC and died in Watauga Co. on Nov. 7, 1964. She and Dell were married in Big Hill, Watauga Co. on Nov. 6, 1895. Both are buried at the Old Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church Cemetery in Watauga Co.

The union of Dell and Mary produced 13 children between Oct., 1896 and Oct., 1920. Five of those children were lost before age 10. Seven of them lived an average life span of 82 years. Three of those seven lived more than 90 years with one living to age 98. One child is still living.

The obituary of their ninth child and fifth son Paul Alfred, appeared today in The Watauga Democrat, Boone, NC.

Mr. Paul Alfred Coffey, 98, of 1900 Hillsmere Lane, Staunton, Va., formerly of Boone, N.C., died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at Loyalton of Staunton.

He was born Dec. 30, 1909 in Watauga County, a son of the late Dell C. and Mary Bodenhamer Coffey.

Mr. Coffey was a member of Old Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church, and was a farmer. Survivors include one sister, Anna Belle Norris of Salisbury; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers and five sisters.

Graveside services and burial was conducted Sunday afternoon, Jan. 13, 2008, at 3 o’clock at the Old Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church Cemetery.

The family received friends Sunday from 1-2:30 p.m. at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6411 Middlebrook Road, Middlebrook, VA 24459; or to the Old Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, in care of George Winebarger, 1767 Burkett Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Henry Funeral Home, Inc., in Staunton, Va., and Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Coffey family.

Their other children were:

Robert Leroy, born Oct. 28, 1896, died May 13, 1974. He was married on Jul. 14, 1920 to Bertie Blanche Walls, born Sep. 13, 1904, died Feb. 22, 1979. They had at least six children: Wade Leroy, Hattie Mae, William Franklin, Frances Viola, Agnes Ruth, and Vera Lee.

Ora Estella, born Aug. 1, 1898, died Nov. 27, 1985. She was married to James Stewart Barnes on Feb. 13, 1924. He was born Sep. 25, 1894 and died Mar. 20, 1965. They had at least four children: James Andrew, Mary Elizabeth, one unnamed daughter and, Rebecca Ann.

Mrs. Estella Coffey Barnes, 87, of Route 2, Boone, died Wednesday morning, Nov.27, at her home. Mrs. Barnes was born Aug. 1, 1898 in Watauga County to Dell Calvin and Mary Jane Bodenhamer. She was the wife of the late Stewart James Barnes. Mrs. Barnes was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church and had attended the Perkinsville Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for a number of years. She was employed for many years as the first secretary of the Appalachian Normal School, which later became Appalachian State University. She was a long time hand-weaving crafts person and was a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Richards, Mrs. Betty Elliott, and Mrs. Rebecca Miller, all of Boone; one son, James A. Barnes of Winston-Salem; one sister, Mrs. Anna Belle Norris of Kannapolis; three brothers, Ira Coffey of Buckingham, Va., Paul Coffey of Middlebrook, Va., Glenn Coffey of Boone; and 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Services were conducted today at 2 p.m. at the Perkinsville Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Jim Russell, the Rev. Bob Young, and the Rev. Bob Barlow. Burial followed at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Directors in Boone were in charge of the arrangements.

William Edgar, born Feb. 5, 1900, died Oct. 3, 1906

Mamie, born Nov. 15, 1901, died Dec. 22, 1901

Emma Edith, born Nov. 11, 1902, died Dec. 19, 1902

Addie Lee, born Jan. 10, 1904, died Feb. 14, 1964. She married Lynman Paul Norris on Mar. 16, 1928. He was born c1900 and died Mar. 3, 1936. They had at least three children: Kay Phyllis, Wanda Delrey and Stanley Paul.

David Glenn, born Feb. 27, 1906, died Apr. 17, 1996. He was married on Aug. 14, 1933 to Reba Wynn [?] Jones. She was born Aug. 17, 1917 and died Apr. 8, 2002. They had at least four children: Billy Glenn, Janet Maxine, James Howard and Mary Lorene.

His obituary appeared in The Watauga Democrat, Boone, N.C., April 19, 1996

Mr. David Glenn Coffey, 90, of 110 Burkett Road, Route 2, Boone, died Wednesday night, April 17, in Morganton.

He was born Feb. 27, 1906, in Watauga County, a son of the late Dell and Mary Bodenhamer Coffey. He retired from the security department of Appalachian State University after 18 years of service and was a member of Old Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Reba Jone [sic] Coffey; three sons, Billy Coffey and his wife, Sandy, of Powell, Tenn., James Howard Coffey and his wife, Janice, and Joe L. Coffey and his wife, Joyce, all of Clemmons; two daughters, Mrs. Maxine McGuire and her husband, Tom, of Kansas City, Missouri and Mrs. Lorene Williams and her husband, Ted, of Kingsport, Tenn.; two brothers, Ira Coffey of Buckingham, Va., and Paul Coffey of Middlebrook, Va.; one sister, Mrs. Anna Belle Norris of Kannapolis. Ten grandchildren, 11 greatpgrandchildren, two step-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters, and a granddaughter, Miss Janet Lee Coffey.

Services will be Saturday at 2:00 o'clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 12:30 until 2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Harwood Smith. Burial will follow in the Old Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Ira Calton, born Jul. 15, 1908, died Jan. 30, 2000 in Buckingham Co., VA. He married Mary Ruth Bradshaw of Bluff City, Sullivan Co., TN. No further information.

Paul Alfred, born Dec. 30, 1909, died Jan. 10, 2008 (See obituary above; he apparently never married)

Walter Murray, born Jul. 22, 1912,died Mar. 3, 1985. He married Mary Cleo Proffitt on Dec. 22, 1938. She was born Feb. 16, 1916 and died Sep. 14, 1989. Their children were Nancy Louise, Kent William, one unnamed daughter, and Jane Elizabeth.

Anna Belle, born Jan. 28, 1915, married Dale Cloyd Norris on Jul. 23, 1939. He died Dec. 2, 2007 in Salisbury, Rowan Co., NC. Their children were Gary, Mickey Alan, and Daniel lee.

Ray Albert, born Sep. 20, 1918, died Oct. 29, 1928

Viola Mary, born Oct. 31, 1920, died Mar. 20, 1921

All of the children were born in Watauga Co. It appears that all of the known deceased, with the exception of Ora Estella and Ira Calton are buried with their parents at Old Mt. Pleasant. Ora is buried at Mt. Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens in Boone. I am not sure where Ira is buried; perhaps in Buckingham Co., VA.

The Norris spouses were children of Millard Harrison and Ida Delrea [Del Rea?] Davis Norris. Their daughter, Marion Edna Norris married William Leon Coffey, another son of William Luther and Mary Moretz Coffey.

Please contact me at the e-mail address above to add to or correct any of this information.