Aurelius & Jessie Edna Bryant Coffey

Aurelius & Jesse Edna Bryant

Aurelius and Jessie were married in Wise Co., TX on Aug. 4, 1897.  He was a son of James Madison and Elizabeth Susan Caddell Coffey, born on Feb. 7, 1876 in Denton Co., TX.  She was a daughter of John W. and America Bryant, born in Texas in April, 1883.  He died on Jun. 27, 1959 in Denton Co. after having farmed his entire life in Wise and Haskell Counties.  He was buried at Bolivar Cemetery in Bolivar, Denton Co.   Jessie outlived Aurelius and passed away on Nov. 2, 1968 in Denton Co.  She too is buried at Bolivar.




Obituary, The Wise County Messenger, Decatur, TX, Thur., Nov. 7, 1968, Page 5

Coffey Rites Held Monday

Mrs. Jessie Edna (Bryant) Coffey, 86, who grew up in Slidell and lived most of her married life there, died Nov. 2 in Flow Hospital, Denton. She had been in ill health for several years. Her husband, Aurelius Coffey, died in 1959 and since that time she had lived around Denton and Slidell. She is survived by 12 children, four sons, J. W Coffey of Denton, W. R. Coffey of Crowley, Jessie A. Coffey of Dallas and Burnice Coffey of Reno, Nev.; eight daughters, Mrs. W L. Walker of Denton, Mrs. J. I Miller of Odessa, Mrs, Jess A. Hopkins of Slidell, Mrs. Real Pendleton of Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Tyson B. Hamilton of Castro Valley, Calif., Mrs. W. R McClendon of Lancaster, Calif., Mrs. Robert Onlott of Castro Valley, Calif., and Mrs. Robert Garrett of Rosebud, Ark., 27 grandchildren; 60 great­ grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Nov. 4 in Christian’ chapel with Jarru F. Scott officiating. Burial was in Bolivar Cemetery with Jim Coffey, Donald A. Coffey, Jess A. Coffey Jr., Joe Hopkins, Sid Coffey and Leon ? acting as pallbearers.

She and Aurelius were parents of 13 children and all survived her with the exception of the youngest, John Preston, born Apr. 13, 1923, died of Diphtheria at Decatur in Wise Co. on Mar. 28, 1928.  He was buried at Slidell Cemetery on Mar. 29.

I have not yet found any meaningful information on eight of the 12.  Those are America, born Dec., 1899; Jesse, born c1906; Nannie P., born c1910; Aurelia, born c1911; Elizabeth, born c1915; Bernice, born c1917; Gladys F., born c1919 and Lonell, born c1921.

The others are:

James Wendall "Doc," born Nov. 11, 1901, died Nov. 5, 1978 at Denton. His wife was Myrtle M., born Jan. 12, 1905, died May 24, 1983.  No marriage date yet found.  Both are buried at the Slidell Cemetery in Wise Co.  They had at least one son, James Vernon "Jim," born Mar. 1, 1936, died Sep. 25, 2007 at Denton and buried at Prairie Mound Cemetery at Argyl, Denton Co.

Katie Valera, born Oct. 20,1903 at Slidell, married Jud Leroy Milner (erroneously as J. I. Miller in Edna's obit) on Nov. 7, 1924.  He was born May 13, 1901 at Bibb in Comanche Co., TX and died Apr. 16, 1988 at Odessa in Ector Co., TX.  Katie died Nov. 17, 1992.  Both are buried at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland, Midland Co., TX.

William Ross, born Jan. 24, 1908 in Slidell, died Sep. 19, 1973 in Dallas.  His wife was Clauda Mae Fortenberry, born Aug. 2, 1917, died Dec. 20, 1988.  She was buried at the Jackson Cemetery in Krum, Denton Co.  They were parents of at least two sons, Donald Lee, born May 1, 1935 in Decatur, died Oct. 17, 2012 at North Richland Hills, in Tarrant Co., TX, and Charles Wendall, born Apr. 9, 1939 in Wise Co., died Jul 19, 1959 in Grapevine, in Tarrant Co.  Both are buried at the Jackson Cemetery.

The last child for which I have some info was Ima Ruth, born Aug. 23, 1912 in TX, died Nov. 21, 1991 in Los Angeles Co., CA. She married Weldon Richard McClendon on Aug. 14, 1931 in Wise Co.  He was born on Dec. 8, 1906 and died Oct. 15, 1965 in Los Angeles. Both are buried at Joshua Memorial Park at Lancaster in Los Angeles Co.

Please contact me to add to or correct any of this information.

  Jack

Update 7/11/2014

It appears that America might have died young or, went through life under some other given name.

Jesse A. was born Sep. 18, 1905 in Wise Co., and died in Texas on Jun 14, 1990.  He married c1926 to Ruth Dobbs, born c 1909 in TX.  Children: Jesse A., Jr.; Patsy R. and Shirley.  May have been others after 1940 census.

Nannie Pearl, born Jul. 30, 1909 in Wise Co., died Mar. 25, 2002 in TX.  She married Jesse Allmon Hopkins, born Sep. 14, 1897 in OK, died Feb. 19,1975 in Decatur, Wise Co., TX.

Aurelia, born Oct. 19, 1910, died Dec. 12, 1971 in Alameda Co., CA, married Ray Pendleton, born Jan. 18, 1895 in Jefferson Co., KY to John R. and Lydia May Cogswell Pendleton, died Feb. 27, 1951 in Decatur.

Marvel Elizabeth, born c 1914, died Aug. 5, 1998 in Concord, Contra Costa Co., CA. (according to an Ancestry.com tree).  No additional info on who her spouse was.  Her spouse might have been the Robert Onlott mentioned in Edna's obituary but, that surname does not appear to exist.

Gladys Faye, born c 1919, married Tyson Brandon Hamilton, born Jul. 26, 1922 in Escambia Co., AL to Will P. and Eugenia H. Hamilton.  He died Apr. 8, 1999 in Contra Costa Co.  They were married to each other, perhaps three times.  I found only one marriage for them, and that was in Reno, Washoe Co., NV, dated Jan. 21, 1977.  I also found three divorce records, one dated March, 1973 at Monterey, CA; another in Nov., 1977 at Contra Costa the third on Apr. 2, 1980 at Contra Costa.

Alice Lonell, born Jun. 13, 1920, died May 31, 2004 in Rose Bud, White Co., AR.  She married Robert Lee Garrett, born Jun. 15, 1913, died Feb. 21, 1996, also in Rose Bud.

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Photo credit: Clarice Milner Baggett

Ernest Webster and Ethel McClung Stratton Coffey

Ernest Webster Coffey was a son of Arthur and Virginia Anne (Jenny) Davis Coffey and, was born Feb. 5, 1888 in Amherst Co.   He was married on Feb. 16, 1910* to Ethel McClung Stratton, a distant cousin, in Hagerstown, Washington Co., MD.  Ethel was the daughter of George Baxter and Elianna Coffey Stratton.  Ethel was born 1892 in VA, and died there in 1965.  Ernest died in VA in 1982.

In Feb. 1910 the couple resided with Ernest's cousin, Robert L. Seay in Amherst Co.   Robert was the husband of Vernie Coffey, a daughter of Pitt and Lucy Parks White Coffey.

When Ernest called to register for the draft in WWI on Jun. 4, 1917, he was a farmer in Alto, VA and claimed exemption based having a wife and two children, as well as on an unnamed physical disability.  

Their child Ernest Webster, Jr. was born Nov. 7, 1912 and died Jan. 13, 1913.  The two children living at the  time were Doris, born Dec. 9, 1913 and Audrey, born c1917, and before Jun. 4.

On Jan. 21, 1920 the family was in the Pedlar Dist. of Amherst Co. where Ernest was farming.  In addition to Doris and Audrey, a third child, Juanita, had been born on Aug., 6, 1918.  A fourth child, Ray, was born later in 1920.

By 1930 the family was in Lexington, Rockbridge Co.  The children Doris, Audrey, Juanita, and Ray were still living with them, and two more had been born  after Ray:  Clayton Webster in 1923 and Norman Elwood in 1929.

Ernest was once again called upon to make himself available to the military draft.  He registered in Rockbridge Co. on Apr. 27, 1942 at the age of 54.  The record indicates that he was 5' 11" tall, had brown hair and eyes.

Upon their deaths, both Ernest and Ethel were buried in the Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista, VA.

Children:

Doris, born Dec. 9, 1913, died Jul. 31, 2005 in Frederick Co., MD.  She married Donald Hafle, born Jun. 1, 1914, died Jan., 1985 in Frederick Co.

Audrey, born c1917, married a Mr. Holtzbach.

Juanita, born Aug. 6, 1918 in Amherst Co., died Oct. 5, 2006 in Lexington.  She married Henry V. Blosser.

Her obituary:

BLOSSER, Juanita Coffey

Juanita Coffey Blosser, 88, of Lexington, died Thursday, October 5, 2006, at The Mayflower of Lexington.

Born August 6, 1918 in Amherst, she was the daughter of Ernest W. and Ethel Stratton Coffey.

She was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church.

Her husband, Henry V. Blosser preceded her in death.  Also preceding her in death were her daughter, Sherry Blosser Fry; two sisters, Audrey Holzbach and Doris Hafle, and two brothers, Clayton Coffey and Norman Coffey.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Edmund Cox of Blacksburg; grandchildren, Torrie Ruther, Leslie Knutson, Vaughn Cox, and Jill Burnett; five great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Stratton and Evelyn Coffey of Lexington; two sisters-in-law, Rita Coffey of Lexington and Dorothy Blosser of Lynchburg; and ten nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be 11 a.m. Monday, October 9, 2006, at Green Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Deborah A. Koontz officiating.  There will be no visitation at the funeral home.  The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at The Mayflower, Lexington and the Rockbridge Area Hospice.

Memorial donations may be made to the Rockbridge Area Hospice.  Lomax Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Ray Stratton, born c1920.  No other information.

Clayton Webster, born Jul. 13, 1923 in Amherst Co., died Jan. 30, 2001 in Lexington.  He married Gladys H., last name unknown.

His obituary:

The Roanoke Times, Feb. 1, 2001

Coffey, Clayton Webster, 77, of Lexington, died Tuesday, January 30, 2001.

Mr. Coffey was born July 13, 1923 in Amherst County, son of the late Ernest W. Coffey and Ethel Stratton Coffey.  He was a member of New Monmouth Presbyterian Church.  He was a retired construction worker.  He was a veteran of WW II and served in the Pacific and European Theaters.

Mr. Coffey was preceded in death by a brother, Norman E. Coffey and a sister, Audrey Holtzbach.  He is survived  by his wife, Gladys H. Coffey; one son, Arthur David Coffey and wife, Mary Ann of Owingsville, Ky.; two stepsons, Edgar Hamilton of Peters Burg and Ralph Hamilton of Buena Vista; two sisters, Juanita Blosser of Lexington and Doris Hafle of Frederick, Md.; one brother, Ray Stratton Coffey, Sr. and wife, Evelyn of Lexington; sister-in-law, Rita Coffey of Lexington; five grandchildren, Shannon Ann Maria Coffey, Alphonzo Coffey, Bartholomew Coffey, Rosita May Sutton, Arthur Clayton Coffey; ten great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, February 2, 2001 at Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Chapel, Buena Vista with the Reverend Martin Stokes officiating.  Interment will be at Green Hill Mausoleum.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Norman Elwood, born Dec. 31, 1929 in Rockbridge Co., died Dec. 11, 1999 in Lexington.  He married Rita Garrett.

His obituary:

The News-Gazette, Lexington, VA, Dec. 15, 1999

Norman Coffey, Longtime Store Owner, Dies

Norman Elwood Coffey, 69, of Lexington, owner of a Lexington furniture store for almost 25 years, died Saturday, Dec. 11.

Mr. Coffey bought the furniture business he was to become known for, Norman Coffey Furniture, from Blosser Furniture Co. in the '70s and ran the store in two locations until 1981 when he consolidated the store into its location on South Jefferson Street.  He operated the store, with the familiar oak rockers out front, until he closed the business and retired in late 1996.

Before entering the furniture business, he was a farmer, running one farm outside of Lexington and a cattle farm on Plank Road.  He grew up working at his family's business, Coffey's Amoco Station on U.S. 60, later buying the business and running it until the 60s.  He also worked for a time as a carpet inspector at Lees Carpets.

He was born Dec. 31, 1929, in Rockbridge County, son of the late Ernest Webster Coffey and Ethel Stratton Coffey.  He was married to Rita Garrett Coffey and was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.  In the past few years he has been a door greeter at Wal-Mart.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Pam A. Coffey and Tracy L. Coffey, both of Roanoke, Victor A. Coffey of Bedford and Melodie Hoy of Wake Forest, N.C.; two brother, Stratton Coffey and Clayton Coffey, both of Lexington; two sisters, Juanita Blosser of Buena Vista and Doric C. Haffle of Fredrick, Md.; and four grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, at Trinity United Methodist Church by the Rev. Mark Reuter and the Rev. Fred Arndt.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Goshen Rescue Squad, the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Department D.A.R.E. program or Trinity United Methodist Church.  Arrangements are by Harrison;s Funeral Home.

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




*Handwritten note by Doris Coffey Hafle on the newspaper clipping announcing the elopement reports 1901 as marriage year.  It appears that she transposed the 0 and 1.  Otherwise, Ernest would have been 13 yrs old at the time and Ethel only 9 yrs old.