Lee Thomas Coffey - Update

Lee Thomas Coffey

Lee was a son of Elijah and Mary Ann Nelson Coffey.  He was born Jun. 24, 1871 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC and died in Minco, Grady Co., OK on Apr. 15, 1952.  He is buried there in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Click on the title link to read an earlier blog about Lee.

His photograph, obituary and biography was provided by John W. Coffey of Raleigh, NC:

Obituary:

Lee T. Coffey was born near Lenoir, North Carolina, June 24, 1871, and passed away April 15, 1952. He was the son of Elijah and Mary Ann Nelson Coffey. Mr. Coffey was educated in the public schools of his native state. After the death of his father in 1891 he took over the management of his father's farm for several years.

In 1906 he came to Minco,Oklahoma and joined his brother-in-law, J.A. Stewart, in the hardware and implement business. After Mr. Stewart's retirement in 1921 he became the sole owner of the business, and operated it until 1943.

Early in life he was converted and became a member of the Advent Christian church near his home. His life was a living testimony of his faith in the saving power of Christ.

On June 29th, 1916, Mr. Coffey was married to Isis Winfree. To this union was born one daughter, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Bill Roby, of Oswego,Illinois.

In addition to his wife and daughter he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. J.A. Stewart of Enid, Oklahoma, and Miss Mary Coffey of Lenoir, North Carolina; also two brothers, John W. Coffey of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Dr. George N. Coffey, of Wooster, Ohio[Typescript of obituary.  Coffey Family Archives.]

Biography:

Lee Thomas Coffey was born in Patterson, Caldwell Co., NC on June 24, 1871, a son of Elijah and Mary Ann Nelson Coffey. After the death of his father, Lee managed the family farm in Happy Valley. He appeared in the 1900 Census in Patterson as head of a household that included his widowed mother. In 1906 he came to Minco, Grady Co., OK, and joined his brother-in-law, James Alexander Stewart, in the hardware and implement business, Stewart & Coffey. After Mr. Stewart's retirement in 1921 Lee became the sole owner of the business, and operated it until 1943. Lee appeared in the 1910 Census in Grady Co., OK listed as a single man in the household with his brother-in-law and older sister Harriet Coffey Stewart. He next appeared in the 1920 Census in Grady Co., with wife Isis and two-year old daughter Elizabeth. Lee died on April 15, 1952 in Minco, Grady Co., OK and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Minco. A typescript obituary records that “Early in life he was converted and became a member of the Advent Christian church near his home. His life was a living testimony of his faith in the saving power of Christ.”

Lee Thomas Coffey and Isis Orpha Winfree were married June 29,1916. They appeared in the 1930 Census in Minco. Isis, the daughter of James M. Winfree and Emma M. (LNU) was born in Beaucoup, Washington Co., IL on May 30, 1890. She appeared in the 1900 Census in Nashville Twp., Washington Co., IL in the household with her parents. At the 1910 Census in St. Louis, MO she was listed as a single woman residing in a boarding house and working in St. Louis. She died on March 10, 1976 in Minco, Grady Co., OK,6 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Minco.

Lee and Isis had the following child:

i. Elizabeth Mae COFFEY was born in Minco, June 21, 1917.