Name: Raymond Donald COFFEY

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Birth: 23 Aug 1913 Near Humeston, Iowa

Death: 16 Mar 1997 Leon Care Center, Leon, Iowa

Burial: 19 Mar 1997 Garden Grove, Iowa

Occupation: Farmer, School Bus Driver, Janitor

Father: Newton COFFEY (1875-1969)

Mother: Adelia Gertrude ROBINSON (1878-1973)

MEMORIES OF FRED COFFEY:

Raymond and Vina's sons, Earl and David, were close to my own age, and paying a visit to Uncle Raymond's farm during the 1940's and early 1950's was a special occasion. I was a "town boy", and life on the farm was so much more interesting! David and Earl would probably say it was also more work, but whenever I was a guest I didn't get exposed to that part of farm life.

When I was very little they raised rabbits, and holding a small bunny was a real treat.

They had a pony, Prince, and with a bribe of an ear of corn Prince would let us catch him and go riding. There was room for all three of us on his back (and sometimes we all fell off at the same time).

It was always fun to go round up the cows at the end of the day, with the dog following along. I was never much good at milking a cow, and certainly didn't have their skill to squirt a stream of milk at the farm cats (who drank it on the fly).

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

Raymond lived in Iowa his entire life, and became a farmer, just like his father.

Raymond married Vina in 1939. Vina was always sure to keep his sisters updated on how he was doing. Raymond and Vina had four sons: Earl, David, Allen and Charles.

In 1997, Raymond passed away from cancer. Five days later, his wife joined him in Heaven.

His whole life Raymond was a prankster…

Erma’s friend from Garden Grove was visiting her at her home in Wayne County. Erma and her friend rode back to Garden Grove on two of the Coffey’s ponies, Pet and Beaut. Pet and Beaut always worked together to pull the carriage, so they always stuck together and followed each other everywhere. Fully aware that Beaut would pay no mind to Erma’s instruction, Raymond advised her to ride Beaut home just the same. So Erma climbed onto Beaut to come home. Just then, Pet took off toward the Coffey farm and Beaut raced after Pet, “just like a streak of lightening”. All that Erma could do was hold on for dear life as Beaut galloped through the countryside. When she arrived at the farm, Raymond was at the well waiting for her, laughing like everything. One thing is for sure: Erma did not always appreciate Raymond’s sense of humor.

But soon enough Raymond and Erma joined forces. One day, after a heavy rainstorm, Raymond, Erma and their little sister Dorothy, decided to play church. Reverend Raymond declared that they were having a baptism service and it was time for Dorothy to get baptized. Dorothy agreed to this game of make-believe. With one quick swoop Dorothy found herself entirely covered in mud, from complete submersion in the puddle! According to Erma, no punishment could have outweighed the humor of that stunt: “She was madder than a hornet!”

Raymond was even funny when he meant business. Protecting his plants was very important to him. But unlike most farmers, Raymond’s weapon of choice was a radio. For years, Raymond used music to chase squirrels away from his gardens. Others insisted that he was simply serenading the squirrels, but Raymond was convinced otherwise.

Having ten sisters and brothers meant you had to be creative in finding a place to be alone. The barn was where the kids usually escaped to. The older siblings had claim to the cleaner parts of the barn. But when Raymond grew bigger than his older sister, Erma, she was demoted to the hayloft, the dirtiest part of the barn. Erma says she didn’t mind it so much, since no one wanted to go to the hayloft, she was guaranteed uninterrupted solitude. All the Coffey kids knew not to bother someone when they were hiding in the barn.

CENSUS 1940: Raymond Coffey / b: abt 1914 in IA / Head / Living in Washington, Wayne, IA

CENSUS 1930: Raymond Coffey / b: abt 1914 in IA / Son / Living in Clay, Wayne, Iowa

CENSUS 1920: Ramond Coffey / b: abt 1913 in IA / Son / Living in
Spouses

1: Vinola Ann ALLEN

Birth: 30 Jan 1918 Allerton, Iowa?

Death: 22 Mar 1997 Garden Grove, Iowa

Marriage: 24 Mar 1940

Raymond Donald COFFEY (23 Aug 1913 - 16 Mar 1997) & Vinola Ann ALLEN (30 Jan 1918 - 22 Mar 1997)

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