Ninth Generation

15400. John Lockhart Coffey⁴¹⁰⁸⁴ was born on 4 February 1898 in Alexander, Erath Co., TX.⁴¹⁰⁸⁵ John died in Oklahoma on 7 August 1984 and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK in August 1984 .^{41086,41087,41088}

Obituary, The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, OK, Fri., Aug. 10, 1984

COFFEY, John L., was a lifelong resident of OKC. He graduated for Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University.

He was a Major from the U.S. Army, serving in World War I and World War II. He was a Commander in the 3rd Wave of the Normandy Invasion. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star, 3 Purple Hearts, & the French Medal of Honor.

Mr Coffey was also retired from the Laidlaw Publishing Company and served as Highway Commissioner for the State of Oklahoma under the E.W. Marlin Administration. Mr Coffey was a member of a First Baptist Church & was a 32nd Degree Mason.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth; daughter, Maxine and son, George, both of Tulsa; and sons, Nance & John II of OKC; as well as 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by his family and a host of friends. Services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, at the Louise Prichard Chapel. Directed by Guardian Midtown Funeral Home.

"John Lockhart Coffey - A native of Texas, but a resident of Oklahoma throughout practically all of his life, Mr. Coffey was educated in the schools and colleges of this State. Beginning to teach, when he was still a boy himself, at the age of sixteen years, he has devoted his life to that profession since then and in the various positions held by him has met with great success. This is more to his credit, because he has held such responsible positions as high school principal, superintendent of schools, and member of the faculties of University of Oklahoma and of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, at an age when most teachers are only beginning their careers. Since 1927 he has been president of the Cameron State School of Agriculture at Lawton, and in this position, too, he has bet with great success and has done excellent work. He is considered today one of the ablest men in educational work in Oklahoma and there is no doubt that he will accomplish even greater things in the years to come.

"John Lockhart Coffey was born in Alexander, Texas, February 4, 1898, a son of George and Julia (Lockhart) Coffey. Having come to Oklahoma in his childhood, he received his early education in the grade school at Sentinel. The family having removed later to the central part of Washita County, Mr. Coffey attended the rural school known as the Port and Spring Creek School. He finished his grammar school education at Spring Creek and then attended the Sentinel High School, after which he he commenced his career as a teacher. However, he continued his own education in later years and, in 1919, graduated from the Weatherford State Nornal School, at that time a junior college. Still later he continued his studies at the University of Oklahoma where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1921. In 1925 he received the degree of Master of Science from the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, Stillwater. All of his educational work has been done in the State of Oklahoma, his first position having been that of high school principal at Carter, which position he held during 1914-15. Next he taught mathematics at the Junior High School at Broken Arrow, during 1915-1916, and then served as superintendent of schools at Bigheart during 1916-18. During the summer of 1918 he taught in the training department of the Weatherford Normal School and then spent two terms as superintendent of schools at Tyrone, 1918-1919. In 1919 and during 1920 he was connected with the University of Oklahoma in its high school department, and then again served as superintendent of schools, this time at Devol, during 1921-1922. In 1922 he became a member of the faculty at the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College at Stillwater, remaining with this institution until 1927. At first, during 1922-24, he was head of the department of secondary correspondence, and then, during 1925-27, he was professor of history.

"Since 1927 he has been president of the Cameron State School of Agriculture at Lawton, Comanche County. This school is now a junior college authorized by the State Legislature.

"[I have omitted the details about the college]

"During the World War Mr. Coffey was a student member of the Student's Army Training Corps at the Weatherford State Normal School. He is now a second lieutenant in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. In politics he is a supporter of the Democratic party."

[John Lockhart Coffey was also the author the The Five Civilized Tribes and Their Influence in Oklahoma History, Oklahoma A&M College Press, 1925]

John Lockhart Coffey and Louise M. were married circa 1917. They appeared in the census on 15 April 1930 in Lawton, Comanche Co., OK.⁴¹⁰⁸⁹ Louise M. was born circa 1895 in Illinois.

John Lockhart Coffey and Louise M. had the following children:

John Lockhart Coffey and Ruth Isabel Spiller were married. They appeared in the census on 12 April 1940 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK.⁴¹⁰⁹⁰ Ruth Isabel Spiller, daughter of George Ernest Spiller and Catherine Gertrude , was born on 25 March 1908 in Emmett, Pottawatomie Co., KS. Ruth died in Oklahoma on 28 October 1992 and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK in October 1992 .^41091,41092

Obituary, The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, OK, Fri., Oct. 30, 1992, Page 19

COFFEY, Ruth Isabel, 84, of OKC, passed away Oct. 28, 1992. Born March 25, 1908, in Emmett, Ks., to George Ernest and Catherine Gertrude Spiller. She was quite a favorite with her two older brothers, Willard Fredrick and Clarence William, until she grew old enough to become a nuisance to them. Ruth was born very early in the morning. Her father could hardly wait for her brothers to awaken to tell them about their new baby sister. When the brothers were awake, he asked them which they would rather have, some candy or a baby sister. Fortunately, for my mother, they chose the baby sister. My mother always appreciated the name her parents gave to her. It was the name her precious mother truly loved, for she named both of her dolls "Ruth Isabel". Of course, little girls in her time usually just had one doll at a time. Ruth was the fifth child born to her parents, however, two little boys died before she was born. Two more children were to follow Ruth, Harold Spiller and Eleanor (Spiller) Corn. She was married to John L. Coffey, who preceded her in death on Aug. 7, 1984. Also preceding her in death was a son, John L. Coffey II, on Feb. 7, 1988. She is survived by a son, Nance Coffey of Yukon; 2 granddaughters, Deborah Jensen, and Ruth Francis; 5 grands ons, John, Edward, Ryan, Scott, and Shawn Coffey; a great grandson, Chris Jensen; 2 stepchildren, George Coffey and Maxine Vickers; sister, Eleanor Corn; 2 brothers, Harold and Clarence Spiller. Ruth taught public school for over 40 years in Ok. and the OKC area. She retired at the age of 62, and was a great school teacher because she loved her students. Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m. Sat., Oct. 31, 1992, at the Louise Prichard Chapel at the First Baptist Church with interment at Memorial Park Cemetery. Dr. Gene Garrison will officiate.

John Lockhart Coffey and Ruth Isabel Spiller had the following children: