Seventh Generation

5262. Dr. Robert Calvin Coffey^{16833,16834,16835} was born on 20 October 1869 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC. He lived with his parents in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC on 30 July 1870. He lived with his parents in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC on 21 June 1880. The Coffey's arrived on 5 March 1932 in Seattle, King Co., WA aboard the SS President Taft sailing from Hong Kong.¹⁶⁸³⁶ Dr. Coffey appeared on the passenger list of the SS Leviathan arriving on 28 October 1932 in New York from Cherbourg, France.

According to the passenger list, Robert was 43 yrs. old, married, and born Oct. 20, 1869 in Lenoir, NC. His address in the US was 611 Lovejoy St., Portland, OR. Dr. Coffey died in an airplane crash on 9 November 1933 at the age of 64 in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR and was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.^16837,16838

"With fearful vengeance the Law of Averages proceeded last week to settle its score against United Air Lines. In 40 million miles of flying, no passenger had been killed in a multi-motored plane of United until last month when a ship was blown up on the New York-Chicago route (TIME, Oct. 23).* Last week near Portland, Ore. another United plane of the same new type crashed into a hillside in a fog. Pilot and three passengers were killed. Copilot, stewardess and four passengers survived.

"Fog lay thick around the Portland airport, situated on an island in the Willamette River, when the ship took off for its run down the coast to San Francisco. Among the passengers was Dr. Robert Calvin Coffey, Portland surgeon famed for his work with cancer. Across from him sat his assistant, Dr. John Straumfjord, with whom he was flying to Medford, Ore. to operate on a colleague. Leaving the airport the pilot circled gingerly up through the fog, edging perilously near the hills which rise abruptly to the west. Suddenly a wing tip gouged a tree on the hilltop. Down the ship crashed. It broke apart, caught fire. In an instant Stewardess Libby Wurgaft had the cabin door open. Four times she entered the blazing cabin, each time helped bring out an injured passenger. But nobody could save Dr. Coffey and the other two passengers on his side of the cabin. All three were killed by the crash.

"Fortnight ago Department of Justice agents said they were convinced that an underworldling had traveled in the plane several days before the crash, had concealed an explosive among the blankets in the plane's lavatory, for fear he would be searched at his destination. The explosive lay among the blankets until it fell to the floor.

"No kin of San Francisco's Dr. Walter Bernard Coffey, he addressed the American College of Surgeons last month on his method of draining the kidneys through the intestines in cases of cancerous bladder, and on his "surgical quarantine" of healthy tissue during treatment." (TIME magazine, Oct. 23, 1933).

Dr. R. C. Coffey, an eminent surgeon of the northwest who has followed his profession in Portland since March, 1900, having now well equipped offices in the Corbett building, is a graduate of the Kentucky School of Medicine of the class of 1892. A native of North Carolina, he is a representation of one of the old southern families. Determining upon the practice of medicine as a life work in early manhood, he supplemented his literary course by study in the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, and was graduated in 1892, after which he sought the opportunities of the northwest, locating for practice in Moscow, Idaho, where he remained for five years. He then removed to Colfax, Washington, where he spent two years and afterward came to Portland, where he has practiced through a decade, giving his attention exclusively to surgery. He is fast becoming a recognized authority on this subject. A master of the construction and functions of the component parts of the human body, of the changes induced in them by the onslaughts of disease, of the defects cast upon them as a legacy by progenitors, of the vital capacity remaining in the throughout all vicissitudes of existence, Dr. Coffey is well equipped for the onerous and responsible duties that devolve upon him as a surgeon and his work has received the endorsement not only of the general public, but also of the profession.

He is an ex-president of the Idaho State Medical Society, an ex-secretary of the Washington State Medical Society and in 1908 was honored with election to the presidency of the Oregon State Medical Society. He is also a member of the Western Surgical Association and Southern Surgical Association, and thus keeps in close touch with the advancement that is being made of the profession as research and investigation broaden knowledge and bring to light the hitherto hidden truths of science.

Dr. Coffey married Miss Clarissa Ellen Coffey, and they have three children, Jay R., Wilson Boone and Robert Mayo. The Doctor belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Royal Arcanum. Of him it has been said "he is wise in human nature, wise in the laws of general science, wise in social amenities."

Dr. Robert Calvin Coffey and Clarissa Ellen Coffey were married on 9 August 1893 in Geary Co., KS.¹⁶⁸²⁹ They¹⁶⁸²⁹ appeared in the census on 18 April 1910 in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.¹⁶⁸³⁰ They¹⁶⁸³⁰ appeared in the census on 8 January 1920 in Multnomah Co., OR.¹⁶⁸³¹ Robert and Clarissa¹⁶⁸³¹ appeared in the census on 8 May 1930 in Carver, Clackamas Co., OR.¹⁶⁸³² Clarissa Ellen Coffey, daughter of Drury Dobbins Coffey and Harriet Elizabeth Collett, was born on 24 September 1868 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC. She lived with her parents in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC on 2 August 1870. Clarissa died on 1 March 1939 at the age of 70 in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR and was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.^{16826,16827,16828}

Death notice, The Oregonian, Portland, OR, Thu., Mar. 2, 1939, Page 10, Col. 5

Death Summons Portland Matron

Mrs. Robert C. Coffey to be buried today

Mrs. Robert C. Coffey, 70, for many years a leader in Portland social and cultural live, died early Wednesday at the Coffey Memorial Hospital, founded by her late husband. Dr. Coffey was killed November 9, 1933, in Portland's worst air disaster.

Mrs. Coffee was the mother of Dr. Jay R. Coffey and Wilson B. Coffey of Portland and of Dr. Robert M. Coffey of Juneau, Alaska.

Rites Due Today

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 P. M. today in the chapel of A. J. Rose & Son, followed by private commitment in the family plot in Riverview cemetery. Dr. J. Hudson Ballard will conduct the service.

Mrs. Coffey, born Clarice Allen Coffey, was a native of North Carolina. She was married to Dr. Coffey, a distant relative, in 1893 at Junction City, Kan., and went with her husband to Moscow, Idaho, where he then was practicing. They moved to Portland in 1898.

Clubs See Work

Mrs. Coffey was a charter member of the Portland Garden club and of the Town club. She also served actively for many years as a member of the board of directors of the Boys' and Girls' Aid society.

Surviving relatives two brothers, Finley H. Coffey of Lenoir, N. C., and Daniel S. Coffey of St. Paul, Minn.

Dr. Robert Calvin Coffey and Clarissa Ellen Coffey had the following children: