In St. Joseph, Missouri, on Monday, May 8, 1944, Jerome Coffey was born. His parents Joseph and Florence Coffey had just welcomed their 3rd child into the world. His siblings, Marie and William (also known as Bill), were awaiting their brother’s arrival. This small family would not be small for long as Jerome (now known as Jerry) would be joined by seven other siblings. Jerry was proud of the fact he could always ramble off each on in birth order. Marie, Bill, Jerry, Joe, Loretta, Paul, Kevin, Steven, Christine, and Carol. There they were family of ten. Oh boy, let the fun begin!
Jerry was raised in the Catholic Church. He also went to catholic school. On the day of his confirmation he was given the middle name of Edward. So now he was Jerome Edward Coffey. Lovingly known as Jerry.
On May 7, 1963 at the young age of 19, Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was now in the infantry. He was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After a period of time, he was sent to Germany. Military life in Germany was hard for Jerry. While serving there, he was able to earn a marksmen medal M-14 Riffleman, light weapons. He was promoted to Private 2nd Class.
While going through the discharge process to come to the states, the war broke out in Vietnam. The Army asked him to re-enlist. He asked is commanding officer how long it would be before he was sent to the Vietnam area. The commanding officer said because of his marksmen medal status, Jerry would be sent in just a few days.
While in Germany, Jerry hut is back and leg. Jerry asked to be sent to the United States. It was on November 20, 1965, he was sent to Fort Hamilton, New York. He received honorable discharge from the United States Army. After leaving the military, Jerry went home to Hannibal Missouri. He then began a nomadic lifestyle, traveling parts of the country, working odd jobs and visiting relatives.
It was on May 10, 1974, while celebrating his brother Paul’s birthday, he met Lanette Campfield. The two became very close and on June 29, 1974 there were married. Eager to start a family, their first child Dawn Deniece Coffey was born on the 12th of June, 1975. Then on the 13th day of October 1976, daughter number two made an appearance, Rebecca Renea Coffey. Jerry always joked around about having ten kids just like his dad. When Rebecca was born, it was not easy. The day she was born, Lanette told him, “We are not having ten kids!” Jerry gave up that idea real fast.
In search of work, Jerry and his family moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1979. Jerry was a jack of all trades. At one point and time, there was a plaque above the door of his bedroom which said, “King of unfinished projects!” His jobs were in insulating homes, installing electrical wire, and plumbing. He worked in laying concrete foundations for buildings going up over town.
He then drove a two ton truck delivering freight. He obtained his commercial drivers license to drive tractor trailers. As he worked these jobs, in doing so he obtained his GED at 53 years of age.
After getting somewhat older, Jerry became a security guard and worked for some well-known companies such as Burns, Securitas, and Pinkerton. While working in the security field, he encouraged his daughter Dawn to get her security license also. Together they worked at major businesses in Ardmore and surrounding areas.
Time for retirement, which means more fishing and hunting. His daughter Rebecca was always his first choice to go on these excursions with him. He always teased her about being his first born son. As the years went by, Jerry was blessed with having three grandsons, O’Ryan Guppy Jones, Christopher Riner, and Joseph Coffey. Now he had fishing partner for life. At 4 and 5 years old, Guppy and Chris took a fishing trip to Lake Murray with Papa. They were gone about two hours. Excitedly, they returned home, with no fish and two rabbits.
Jerry and Lanette were lucky enough to have numerous kids become extended family members of their family. Remember, Jerry wanted ten kids, well he surpassed that number. Many of those young people are now adults and are still involved with Jerry and his family.
Jerry was proceeded in death by his parents Joseph and Florence Coffey. Two sisters, Marie Kurz and Christine Fulton. Two brothers, William (Bill) Coffey and Joseph (Joe) Coffey. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lanette. Two daughters, Dawn Reed (William), Rebecca Nicolas (Gilberto). Three grandsons, O’Ryan (Guppy) Jones, Christopher Riner (Sara), Joseph B. Coffey. A great grandson, Samuel Riner. Three brothers, Kevin Coffey (Charmine), Paul Coffey (Gina), Steven Coffey (Brenda). Two sisters, Loretta Zimmerman, Carol Culp (Keith). In-laws Wayne Kurz, Jeff Campfield (Karen), Cary Campfield. Extended family members include Aldolfo Pena and Calvin Downey, grandchildren Cierra Downey, Quinton Downey and C.J. Downey, great-grandson Stoney Dorman. Survived by multiple nieces and nephews, and other family members.
Well, he wasn’t Elvis Presley. He was Jerome Edward Coffey and he did it his way.
Jerome passed away January 21, 2023. Funeral Services for Jerome Coffey will be held at Craddock Memorial Chapel Friday, January 27, at 4:00 pm. A visitation is scheduled for Thursday, January 26 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
