Ninth Generation

18933. Robert Herman "Bob" Coffey was born on 2 September 1931 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC.⁴⁶²⁷⁶ Robert died in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC on 24 June 1994. Boone Fork Community Cemetery in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC on 27 June 1994.^{46277,46278,46279}

Obituary, unknown periodical, unknown date

Mr. Robert H. 'Bob' Coffey

Retired WHS masonry teacher

Mr. Robert H. "Bob" Coffey, 62, of Route 1, Blowing Rock, died Friday evening, June 24, at his home.

He was born Sept. 2, 1931, in blowing rock, a son of Hildred Church Coffey and the late Mr. James Herman Coffey. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War and a retired vocational teacher from Watauga High School, having taught masonry construction for 25 years. He was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include his wife, Vera Cook Coffey; three sons, Rickey Coffey of Route 1, Blowing Rock, Kevin Coffey and his wife, nancy, of Morganton and Eric Coffey of the home; one daughter, Vickie Norris and her husband, Dan, of Route 2, Boone; his mother of blowing Rock; one brother, James Coffey of Plano, Texas; one sister, Thelma Coffey of Blowing Rock; four granddaughters, Misty Coffey of Asheville, natalie Coffey and Lauren Coffey, both of Morganton, and Ashley Norris of Boone; and three grandsons, Robert Clinton Coffey of Blowing Rock, Matthew Norris of Boone and Brandon Coffey of Morganton.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Mrs. Betty Johnson.

Services were Sunday night at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating were the Rev. Chuck Blanck and the Rev. Dean Coffey. Graveside services and burial were Monday morning at the Boone Fork Community Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, Route 5, Box 199, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Hampton Funeral Services was in charge of arrangements.

Vera Louise Cook, daughter of Astor John Cook and Mary Louise Howell, was born in 1939.

Robert Herman "Bob" Coffey and Vera Louise Cook had the following children:

22025

Eric Mark Coffey was born about 1964 in North Carolina. Eric died on 2 August 2008 at the age of 44 in Wake Forest, Wake Co., NC and was buried at Boone Fork Community Cemetery in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC on 7 August 2008.⁴⁶²⁸⁰

Man struck by dump truck, dies of injuries

By Ron Fitzwater
The Mountain Times

Boone, Watauga Co., NC
Aug. 7, 2008

44 year-old Eric Mark Coffey, a resident at the Wilow Place group home at 603 Long Street in West Jefferson, died from injuries sustained when he was struck by a dump truck driven by Lee Roy Gilbert at approximately 10:15 a.m. Friday morning on South Jefferson Avenue in West Jefferson.

Coffey was treated on the scene by first responders from Blue Ridge Medical Transport. According to Robert Poe of BRMT, Coffey was stabilized and taken to Ashe Memorial Hospital in preparation for transport to Wake Forrest University Baptist Medical Center.

"We called Air-Care and they lifted off, headed for Ashe Memorial about the same time we left the scene. Ashe Memorial took him in and stabilized him and prepped him for transport."

In spite of the best efforts of medical personnel, Coffey died from the severe trauma of the accident at approximately 4 a.m. Saturday morning. A full autopsy is being conducted at the center, including toxicology, in a effort to discover a cause for Coffey's actions Friday morning.

According to West Jefferson Police Chief Brian Grogan, Gilbert struck Coffey as he crossed the four-lane road. "Both the driver and a witness state that he [Coffey] was just standing there [on the side of the roadway] and started walking into the street as the dump truck approached, then it appeared as if he ran into the path of it. So the cause is undetermined."

It is not known if Coffey was attempting to get out of the way of the truck when struck, or possibly did not realize he was so close to it.

Grogan said that according to individuals at Willow Place who interacted with Coffey Friday morning, his "demeanor throughout the morning was normal."

The driver was unharmed in the accident. Grogan said, "based on the witness statement as well as what I see, I don't believe there to be any driver negligence and that Gilbert did everything he could to avoid hitting him. His speed appears to be what it should have been, and no alcohol involvement on the part of Gilbert is suspected."

No charges are expected to be filed against Gilbert in connection to the accident and barring any unexpected developments, Grogan considers the case closed.

An employee of Willow Place who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that Coffey was a well-liked person at the home who frequently took walks around town and was always in the best of spirits. Rumors that Coffey intentionally stepped into the path of the truck intentionally have caused concern at the group home and the employee said they felt there was absolutely no possibility Coffey would do anything to harm himself.
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Obituary, Hampton Funeral Service, Blowing Rock, Boone Co., NC. Aug. 2, 2008

Mr. Eric Mark Coffey, age 44, of Blowing Rock, died Saturday, August 2, 2008, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Eric is survived by his mother, Vera Cook Coffey of Hickory; one sister, Mrs. Vickie Norris and husband Dan, of Boone, two brothers, Ricky Coffey and wife Debbie, of Boone and Kevin Coffey and wife Nancy, of Morganton, also a number of nieces and nephews; Misty Davis, Robbie Coffey, Matthew Norris, Natalie Coffey, Ashley Norris, Brandon Coffey and Lauren Coffey. He is also survived by a great niece and great nephew. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert "Bob" Coffey, his grandparents, Herman and Hildred Church Coffey and Astor and Louise Howell Cook.

Graveside services and burial for Eric Mark Coffey will be conducted Thursday morning at 10:00 o'clock at Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Blowing Rock. Officiating will be Rev. John Fitzgerald.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock at Hampton Funeral Service. At other times the family will be at the home of Dan and Vickie Norris, 689 Burkett Road, Boone, NC 28607 or phone (828) 262-0313.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Willow Place, P.O. Box 677, West Jefferson, NC 28694.

Online condolences may be sent to the Coffey family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com

Obituary, The Blowing Rocket, Boone, Watauga Co., NC, Aug. 7, 2008

Mr. Eric Mark Coffey, age 44, of Blowing Rock, died Saturday, August 2, 2008, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

He was born February 21, 1964, in Bristol, Virginia, a son of Vera Cook Coffey and the late Robert “Bob” Coffey. Eric enjoyed a career in masonry construction where he was considered by many a master stone mason. He enjoyed guitar, fishing, the outdoors, snow skiing and rocks of all kinds. He had a great passion and love for his family and friends, and was a member of Middle Fork Baptist Church.

Graveside services and interment for Eric Mark Coffey were conducted Thursday morning at 10:00 o'clock at Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Blowing Rock. Officiating was the Rev. John Fitzgerald.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Willow Place, P.O. Box 677, West Jefferson, NC 28694.

Online condolences may be sent to the Coffey family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

July 28, 2007, The Watauga Democrat, Boone, Watauga Co., NC

Charges of breaking and entering a vehicle and tampering with a vehicle were dismissed against Eric Mark Coffey, 43, of 1469 W. King St. Apt. 604, Boone.

Oct. 17, 2007, The Watauga Democrat, Boone, Watauga Co., NC

Eric Mark Coffey, 43, of 118 Long St. Apt. 8, Boone, was served with a warrant for arrest as a fugitive from another state. He was placed in the Watauga County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in district court on Nov. 13 in lieu of a $10,000 bond.