Cecil Edgar Coffee

Cecil Edgar Coffee peacefully passed away at home on September 5, 2015 surrounded by his loving family and friends, after fighting a courageous battle against cancer. He was born in Wapanucka, Oklahoma on July 21, 1935 to parents Willis and Lilly May Coffee. Cecil had seven older siblings, boy (unnamed), Frances, Harvey, Mollie, Willis, Kenneth and Pauline and four younger sisters, Ella, Kathleen, Shirley and Makala. The Coffee children were raised in Oklahoma and San Pablo, CA. Cecil was an intelligent and logical man, relying on clear, concrete information. He had everything planned out, worked hard to stay ahead and used dates and routines to manage life. Cecil’s favorite subjects in school were Math and Physical Education, he was very athletic and played for his high school’s baseball team. Other sports that he enjoyed were bowling and golf where had a hole in one. His favorite professional sports teams were the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and the Golden State Warriors. Following Cecil’s graduation from Richmond High School in 1953, he married the love of his life, Tula Marie on October 16, 1954 at the Pentecostal Church of God in San Pablo, CA. Cecil and Tula had two daughters, Cathy and Carolyn, five grandchildren, Frank, Aaron, Jennifer, Lisa and Cheryl and six great-grandchildren. Cecil and his family had lived in Fremont, CA from 1968 to 1984 and later moved to Pleasanton, CA from 1984 to 2001. He worked very hard as a sheet metal foreman and was employed for 30 plus years by Eagle Machinery Company in Oakland, CA. Cecil’s favorite places to vacation were Alaskan Cruise, annual trips to Lawrence Welk Resort in Escondido, CA and Hawaii. Cecil was known to be outgoing, energized by people and never met a stranger. In his early 20’s, he met and became lifelong friends with Doyle and Emma Jean Parker, later in life he became very good friends with Jerry and Cheryl Anstey. Cecil made decisions based on feelings, was very sensitive to others and definitely avoided conflicts. Cecil enjoyed being involved in his communities, he was an active member of the Golden Gate Primitive Baptist Church in Fremont, CA and in his later years was an active member of the Turlock Senior Citizens. Cecil relocated to Turlock, CA in 2001 after he retired. He enjoyed spending his day playing golf with family and friends, and remained active in church and the Turlock Senior Center. Cecil is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Tula, daughter Cathy, sisters, Frances, Pauline and Shirley, five grandchildren, six great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He will be dearly missed by all his family and friends. Lakewood Funeral Home was honored to serve Cecil’s family. A viewing was held on Friday, September 11, 2015 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM in the Riverside Chapel at Lakewood Funeral Home. Chapel Service began at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 12, 2015 and was followed by burial at Lakewood Memorial Park.