Jeff Coffey and Rosa Strunk

Jeff Coffey Death Certificate

I'm searching for Shelby Coffey, father of this Jeff Coffey, born Aug. 27, 1887, died Nov. 30, 1928 in McCreary Co., KY. According to Jeff's death certificate, he was married to Rosa Strunk.

The only Jeff, or Jefferson that I can find in the Kentucky census record was son of Lewis Coffey, Jr. and Permelia Ann Tucker Coffey. He was married to Lena [Lina] Barnett c1906 and appears with her from 1910 to 1930 in Wayne Co. Kentucky death records show that he died Aug. 30, 1969 in that county, and is buried there in Elk Spring Valley Cemetery.

Lina was born Oct. 24, 1889 in Wayne Co., and died Oct. 7, 1961 in Somerset, Pulaski Co., KY. She is also buried in Elk Spring.

I have the following in my files:

Shelby, born Aug. 19, 1811 in Wayne Co., son of Lewis Russell and Bidant Moore Coffey, and the husband of Zerilda Emarine Meadows. This Shelby died Sep. 2, 1863 and is buried at Elk Spring.

Shelby, born c1833 in KY. This Shelby could be the son of James Lewis, and the same one found in the 1860 Wayne Co. census with Henderson, brother to James Lewis. I am unsure if Henderson also gave this name to one of his sons, or if the 1860 Shelby is his nephew. Henderson and James Lewis are sons of Lewis and Bidant.

Shelby, born 1832 in Wayne Co., KY, a son of Henderson and Minerva Alexander Coffey

Shelby, born 1852 in Wayne Co., son of John Coffey and Rachel Barrier Coffey. This Shelby married Sarah Perkins on Dec. 26, 1872.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you can help with the ID, or can correct any of this information.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

The McCreary County Record Online edition, May 17, 2007, describes the addition of Oliver Slaven of McCreary Co., KY to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

The article was authored by Record staff writer Janie Slaven, the great-granddaughter of Oliver Slaven.

"Sunday, May 9, 1920, began much like any other day for the family man. While on duty that morning, Slaven attempted to arrest a miner named Cole Coffey after finding him with eight quarts of whiskey but the man escaped. Later in the afternoon while searching the crowd at the Stearns baseball diamond where a game was in progress, one of the spectators advised Slaven that Coffey was hiding at a nearby residence. During his second attempt to arrest Coffey, the fugitive shot Deputy Slaven three times."

Click on the title link to read the complete article.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you can identify the family of Cole Coffey.

America Florence Coffey

America Florence Coffey, born Mar. 11, 18891 in Wayne Co., KY, was a daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Martha Cecelia Dobbs Coffey. Benjamin belongs to the Nelson N. and Keziah (Kizzie) Watters Coffey family.

She first married Litten Keith on May 24, 1911 in Wayne Co. After his death in 1920 she married Sherman L. Corder in 1922. Sherman died on Dec. 25, 1981 and America died in Stearns, McCreary Co. on Nov. 29, 1993.

The following appeared in the McCreary County Record on Mar. 16, 1993.

America Corder is 103 and going strong!

By Paula Vann
Record Staff Writer

This week America Corder celebrated her birthday!
What's the big deal?
She is 103 years young and still going like some 30 years her junior.
"Aunt Merk," as many members of her family call her, was born March 11 "way up on Wolf Creek," in 1890, It would be 22 years before McCreary County was born. In fact, the railroad was just punching its way into the area.

Though hard of hearing and nearly blind, America remembers what it was like. Like the time they took a skiff to Monticello.

America, born to B. F. (Benjamin Franklin) and Martha Dobbs Coffey, married Litton Keith not long after McCreary County was born. After just a few years, America lost Litton when he was killed in Mine 10 along Wolf Creek in western McCreary County.

After a time, America remarried. Her second husband was Sherman Corder. America and her husband moved to Stearns around 1925, buying a "three-room box house" on the Stearns Tower Road.

America still lives in that house. Additions have been made, but it still contains the original three rooms.

"When we moved here it was winter," smiles America. "If it hadn't been winter we'd have probably torn down the original house and built a log cabin. I never spent such a cold winter in my life," says America.

People dropped in all day last Thursday to wish America the best on her birthday. "I love having company," smiled America.

America never had any children of her own, but she has all kinds of 'children' that have adopted her through the years. Numerous nieces and nephews, their children and their children are her children, too.

America is fairly independent, despite her age. Lifeline helps her some with daily chores in and around her home, as well as help from family members.

To help celebrate her birthday, America had a fried chicken dinner which really hit her spot. A sheet cake graced the dining room table to serve visitors on America's special day. One family member was keeping record of all the birthday visitors to read to America later.

1Social Security Death Index
The photo is credited to Paula Vann
The article was contributed by Ola Jackson

Sandy Coffey

Sandy, a son of Grover Conley and Elsie Matthews Coffey, was born Nov. 28, 1959, died Apr. 12, 2008. The blog entry prior to this one announced the death of his mother.

Click on the title link to read Sandy's obituary.

Elsie Matthews Coffey (Updated 4/13/08)

The death of Elsie Matthews Coffey of McCreary Co., KY was announced today in the McCreary County Record of Whitley City, KY.

She was born at Jones Hollow, Kentucky on March 3, 1928 the daughter of the late Marcus and Flonnie Phillips Matthews. Her husband was Grover Conley Coffey, who I believe was a son of Benjamin Franklin Coffey, Jr., and Sallie Belle Clark.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you can confirm Grover's parents.

Click on the title link to view Elsie's obituary, and to view her photograph.

Update Apr 13, 2008:

Nettie Coffey, a daughter of Benjamin Franklin Coffey and wife Martha Cecelia Dobbs, was born Jun. 10, 1881 in KY, and died Feb. 20, 1973 in McCreary Co., KY. She married George Phillips on Jan. 24, 1906 in KY. He was born c1884 in Wayne Co., KY and died Jul. 25, 1974 in McCreary Co.

They were parents of at least three children: Flonnie, born Oct. 22, 1906; Mattie, born Aug. 13, 1908; and Otto, born Jul. 3, 1910.

Flonnie married Marcus Matthews. They were the parents of Elsie.

Elsie married Grover Conley Coffey, son of Benjamin Franklin Coffey, Jr.




L-R: Sally Clark, w/o Ben'j Franklin Coffey, Jr.; Flonnie Phillips Matthews, d/o Geo. and Nettie Coffey Phillips (Nettie sister of Ben'j, Jr.); Adina Coffey, dau. of Sally and Ben'j; Mattie Phillips, sister to Flonnie; Lee Roy Coffey, s/o Sally and Bej'j; Dovie Coffey; and Dorothy Coffey, d/o Sally and Ben'j.

Not yet sure who Dovie belongs to.

Photo courtesy Ola Jackson 4/08