Eighth Generation

13616. Paris Tilmon Coffey was born on 29 January 1912 in Indian Creek, Grainger Co., TN.³⁸⁴⁸⁶ Paris died at Claiborne County Nursing Home in Claiborne Co., TN on 24 November 1997 and was buried at Fairview Memorial Cemetery in New Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN in November 1997 .^{7225,38487,38488}

Obituary, Coffey Mortuary, Tazewell, TN, Nov., 1997

Paris T. Coffey was born in Grainger County on Jan. 29, 1912 to Orlander and Orlena Coffey. He was one of eight children in that family: General, Emmett, Paris and Carson made up the four brothers and Elsie, Lillie, Ella and Delta made up the sisters in that family.

Paris grew up on the farm and exhorted his personality as a competitive prankster in an era that offered few material benefits. He graduated from Grainger County High School in Rutledge and then went on to East Tenn. State University to pursue a teacher's certificate. It was there at ETSU that he met the challenge of his life, a girl that told him,"Paris, you might fool some foolish girls, but you'll never fool me!".

Martha Leo Bolton was born Nov. 9, 1916 and grew up across the river and a couple of valleys over from Paris in Claiborne County, TN. The external circumstances for Leo were much like those for Paris during the depression years on a farm, but her family structure was a complete turnaround from Paris's. Leo was one of two children, with an older sister named Nell. Both Nell and Leo were trained to be quietly obedient and to address life in a serious manner.

Leo also pursued her education at ETSU where she met Paris. Thus, it began.

Paris and Leo eloped to get married on Oct. 3, 1937. They kept their marriage secret for awhile since female teachers at the time could not teach if married. No longer able to suppress their marriage, they lived in meager fare as teachers in separate counties, as cabin rental and gas station owners, Paris as postman and store owners at differing time during their early years. Paris co-joined with his brother, General, in the furniture business in Lone Mountain with caskets in the upstairs display room for awhile, then moved to the auto sales business in New Tazewell. Paris would go to Michigan, purchase a car and he and General would put that car on the lot for sale until sold. When that one sold, Paris would return to Michigan for another car. The business grew but Paris decided to pursue another avenue of business and graduated from the John Gupton School of Embalming and Funeral Direction in 1938.

To Paris and Leo's union, their first born was a handsome son, Wayne, on April 13, 1943. He was a joy and quite rambunctious even though he suffered from severe asthma attacks. Wayne was not one to be dared. He totally shocked his Aunt Beulah who kept him every now and then when she made a dare to him in hopes she could intimidate him into desired behavior. She had locked a glass door to a back porch to shut him out of the house for his misbehavior. He quickly picked up a broom and she dared him to hit the glass door. KaBOOm!

Paris built the home they lived in for the rest of their lives in 1948. This was the year that their daughter, Martha Frances, was born. Although life was still no picnic financially they enjoyed their blessings.

Life revolved around the family, church and work. Paris was the mischievous outgoing one and participated in many community events. Leo was more home oriented and kept her family on the right track in many ways. They were members of the Fairview Baptist Church just across the street from their house and many neighborhood events took place in their home. Crochet, tag football, Easter egg hunts, horseback riding and other events were played in their yard. Many visits were made back and forth to the core families on both the Coffey and Bolton families.

Wayne graduated from UT with a major in civil engineering. He was very active in his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta. It was there at UT that he met "the catch of his life", Patricia Simmons. When Wayne brought Pat to meet his parents, he had told her of his parents elopement, so Pat, unfamiliar with some of hillbilly phrasing and thinking she was using the correct phrasing, said to Leo in one of their first words to one another that she understood that Paris and Leo had had "a shotgun wedding!" Even though this could have started a rocky relationship, nothing could have been further from the truth. Both Leo and Pat had a mutual love and respect for one another. Leo always considered Pat her daughter.

Wayne and Pat, married in 1965 and moved to Nashville where Wayne attended and later graduated from John Gupton School of Embalming and Funeral Direction.

After moving back to Tazewell, Wayne and Pat had their first daughter, Lisa Renee. Thereafter, they were blessed with two other daughters, Cherie Michelle and Melanie Marie. The whole family was able to enjoy one another by living and working in the same community.

Frances married Steve Vass and had two sons, Charlton Christopher and Jason Garfield Vass. That marriage did not last, but Paris took a devoted interest in helping teach boys the way to manhood.

They too enjoyed the love of an extended family. Paris wanted to make businessmen out of the two boys, so he bought them a cow and calf in the spring on one year. Paris saw to it that the calf was made to a steer and that all care was given but he wanted the boys to see what the financial benefits could be to raising these animals. Of course, the boys, in their young ages, got attached to the animals, particularly the calf, which they named Wilbur. They played with that calf daily and enjoyed the antics displayed. One deep fall day, Paris had the cow and steer loaded and taken off. Not long after, Paris came to enjoy a "beef" meal with Frances and the boys. While eating and enjoying the meal, Paris explained that due to their efforts in feeding the steer that they could now enjoy a fine meat-based meal. A look of horror crossed the boys' faces and Jason exclaimed, "you mean, we're eating WILBUR!!"

Later, Frances married Don Rasnic. When Don first met Frances's family he was given the seat next to Paris. He stated to Frances that he was deeply honored to be seated next to her father and appreciated the gesture. He did not realize at the time that all tried to be far away from Paris due to his spilling of foods and drinks on those closest at hand.
No one made him any the wiser til later when he figured it out himself.

All three families loved, laughed and suffered together. All their hearts were broken when Leo developed lung cancer and left them very shortly thereafter. She was their "glue" and their lifeblood. Even in death, she brought them closer to her and to God. She made her family realize what a blessing a family could be and what God could do!

Paris died nearly 9 years later. He never gave up his love for people and the need to be there to help.

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Obituary, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville, TN, Thur., Nov. 27, 1997

Mr Paris Tilmon Coffey, 85

FUNERAL TODAY FOR COFFEY, NOTED CLAIBORNE COUNTIAN

Knoxville News-Sentinel, The (TN) - Thursday, November 27, 1997
Services for Paris Tilmon Coffey, 85, founder of a funeral home, a former member of the Tennessee Legislature and a Claiborne County community leader, will be at 11 a.m. today.

Mr. Coffey died Monday at Claiborne County Nursing Home. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery following the funeral at Coffey Funeral Home, which he started in Tazewell in 1938.

He was a member of Fairview Baptist Church, the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star No. 180, and Kerbela Temple No. 162.

He was a former member of Oddfellows, Lions Club and Kiwanis Club.

Mr. Coffey formerly taught school in Grainger County, where he was reared.

He is a former president of the Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in bringing Signal Knitting Mills and Claiborne County Hospital into the area.

Mr. Coffey loved children and school ball games and had a permanent season pass for athletic events at Claiborne County High School.

He also loved hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his wife, Hulda Spoon Coffey of Morristown; a son, Wayne Coffey of Tazewell; a daughter, Frances Rasnic of Tazewell; a step-daughter, Vivian Crigger of Morristown; six grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Carson Coffey of Middleton, Ohio; and sisters Ella Carpenter of Orlando, Fla., and Delta Coffey of Morristown.

Paris Tilmon Coffey and Leo M. Bolton were married on 2 October 1937 in Grainger Co., TN.³⁸⁴⁸⁹ They³⁸⁴⁸⁹ appeared in the census on 10 April 1940 in Bean Station, Grainger Co., TN.³⁸⁴⁹⁰ Leo M. Bolton, daughter of Lon Bolton and Minnie L. Vannoy, was born on 9 November 1915 in Claiborne Co., TN. Leo died on 3 February 1988 at the age of 72 in Knoxville, Knox Co., TN and was buried at Fairview Memorial Cemetery in New Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN.³⁸⁴⁹¹