Name: Carl Edward COFFEY

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Birth: 17 Sep 1897 Nr. Humeston, Iowa

Death: 22 Sep 1987

Occupation: Farming

Father: Newton COFFEY (1875-1969)

Mother: Adelia Gertrude ROBINSON (1878-1973)

Misc. Notes

From Obituary --

Carl Edward, eldest of the 10 children of Newton and Adelia Gertrude (Robinson) Coffey, was born Sept. 17, 1897 in Wayne County, south of Humeston, Iowa and died at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa early Tuesday morning, Sept. 22, 1987 aged 90 years and 5 days. Carl attended several different schools in Wayne County.

He was united in marriage to Mary Hoffman of Garden Grove, Iowa on June 6, 1920 and to this union were born 4 children. Kenneth Eugene, Darrell Dwuaine, Betty Imogene and Richard Newton. Their home was also open to several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; son, Kenneth; small daughter, Betty; his parents, brother, William; and 2 sisters, Opal and Mildred.

On Sept. 7, 1952 he was married to Alice Hacker West and they made their home in Leon after retiring from farming in 1953. Carl was an active farmer in Wayne and Decatur Counties. He was active in church and community affairs, the Masonic Lodge, Farm Bureau, and the local Historical Society; he was a member of the Unity Baptist Church in Wayne County, later transferring his membership to the Loving Chapel United Methodist Church in Leon where he remained a faithful member.

VELMA: Carl loved children, he essentially adopted Mary’s nephew Don when Don’s mother died. Carl shared his emotions about the loss of two of his children, and his wife Mary.

KAREN: Remembers a story where Carl had a new girlfriend, went to sleep while he thought his horse was taking him home. However horse instead took him to the house of his old girl friend.

NOTE FROM FRED COFFEY: I loved to visit uncle Carl's farm when I was a small child in the late 1940's, particularly if Aunt Mary's nephew, Donnie Hoffman, happened to be there at the same time. Carl still did part of his farming with horses, and Donnie and I were allowed to play with his giant (to us) but gentle draft horse "Ginger". We would lead her over to a tall fence, and then climb up high enough to finally get on her back, and off we would go! (We couldn't ride Ginger's teammate, who didn't much care for kids.) Carl also raised sheep, which was a bit of a novelty. Also Carl didn't have outside electrical supply, but ran his own generator with batteries and a DC lighting system. Sometimes the Coffeys had a picnic down by the creek on his farm, and all of the kids were allowed to "swim" in the creek (it was maybe 12 inches deep).

From Coffey Family stories and notes, compiled by Lynda Clare for 2005 Coffey Reunion:

Buggies were much safer to drive than cars are, in that you could fall asleep driving home and the pony would go on autopilot - - you would wake up at your house.

One night, after dropping off his date at her house, Carl decided to take a nap while the pony brought him home. Some time later, Carl awoke and found himself parked in front of his former girlfriend’s house! Who knew a pony could have such a sense of humor? Much to Carl's dismay, his siblings heard of the embarrassing event from one of his friends!

1940 Census, Clay, Wayne Co., IA:

Carl is a farmer, renting, with wife Mary and children Kenneth, Darrell and Richard at home. But there is a curious mystery, with two young girls in the household – Connie (13) and Mary (11) Miner. Took a while to sort out who they were:

Carl’s wife Mary had a younger sister, Martha “Mattie” Hoffman (abt 1902 - ?). Martha married James Franklin Miner (1901 – 1975). They had two daughters, Constance Luellen Miner (10 Aug 1926 – 27 Jun 2011) and Mary Anne Miner (25 Dec 1927 – 18 Feb 1989). And this “Miner” family is together in the 1930 census for Wayne County. But in 1940 I can’t find husband James anywhere, and the kids are living with Carl and Mary Coffey. And Martha (Hoffman) Miner is working as a waitress in Des Moines.

Other Census:

CENSUS 1940: Carl Coffey / b: abt 1898 in IA / Head / Living in Clay, Wayne, IA

CENSUS 1930: Carl Coffey / b: abt 1898 in IA / Head / Living in High Point, Decatur, Iowa

CENSUS 1920: Carl Coffey / b: abt 1898 in IA / Son / Living in Clay, Wayne, Iowa

CENSUS 1910: Carl E Coffey / b: abt 1898 in IA / Son / Living in Clay, Wayne, Iowa

CENSUS 1900: Carl E Coffee / b: abt Sep 1897 in IA / Son / Living in Clay, Wayne, Iowa

Spouses

1: Mary HOFFMAN

Birth: 12 Jan 1898

Marriage: 6 Jun 1920

Carl Edward COFFEY (17 Sep 1897 - 22 Sep 1987) & Mary HOFFMAN (12 Jan 1898 - )

(PRIVATE)

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2: Alice Hacker WEST

Marriage: 7 Sep 1952