Mary Elizabeth Coffey

October 17, 1924 - May 27, 2015

Mary Elizabeth Corey Coffey was born in Osaka Japan where her father was an Anglican missionary. When she was four the family moved to Hilo on the Big Island in Hawaii where Mary grew up. When she was a teenager, the family moved to Honolulu where they were living in 1945 when Mary met Army captain Jon Coffey, who was then stationed at Scofield barracks as part of the World War II Pacific force. After the war Mary journeyed to Chattanooga, Tennessee to marry Jon. Within a few years, Jon felt called to ordained ministry and Mary was ready to be coastal again, so they took their first child, Jon Jr., and moved to Berkeley, California. While in school at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Mary and Jon had two more boys, Christopher and David. Upon graduation, Mary went back to Tennessee for two years with Jon and the boys before going coastal again as they moved to Miami Springs and later Miami Beach, Florida where they raised the boys and where Mary and Jon finally had their dream come true when a daughter, Constance, was born. Years later Mary and Jon moved to Jensen Beach and then, in retirement, they lived many happy years together in Palm City. Her last years were happy ones at Sand Hill Cove, where she felt safe and “never had to cook”. Jon passed away on December 15, 2012 just short of their 66th wedding anniversary. Mary loved the coast, she loved and respected diversity among people as she had experienced growing up in Hawaii, and she loved animals. There were never too many cats and dogs and fish and monkeys and birds around the house for her.

Mary is survived by Consie (Trampas), Dave (Susan), Chris (Karen) and Jon (Julie). She is also survived by loving grandchildren, Brianna, Nicholas, Zachary, Shelby, Corey, Chris, Caleb, Alex, Jeremy (Laura), Melissa (Jason) Caitlin (Justin), Andrew (Shaima), Kate (Justin) and Spencer, as well as six great grandchildren, Kate, Kristin, Cooper, Quinn, Anderson and Liam.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Sand Hill Cove for their love and care for Mary in her final years. A funeral will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Jensen Beach, Florida on Seaview Drive at 1pm Saturday, May 30. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund [episcopalrelief.org or call 1-855-312-4325].