Marguerite Jean Coffman

Marguerite “Rita” died March 24, 2016, at the age of 97, in Moorpark, California. She was lucky enough to marry and outlive three great men, raise one son, Lane Jackson, help raise another, John Preston, and have four other children, through marriage, come into her life.

Rita was born in Coalinga, California in 1918, lived briefly in Bridgeport, California and Arizona, before settling in Ventura, California. After graduating from Ventura High School, she ventured off to Florida then Georgia, where she married Arthur Lane Jackson. Two years after adopting their son Robert Lane, in 1951 Arthur died from Leukemia. Rita packed her car and drove cross county with all her belongings and her two year old son to be close to her parents in Ventura.

Years later she married Don E. Preston, who she was married to for 45 years. Don had three children, John and Tom Preston, and Steve Kent. For five short years Rita loved helping raise her first grandchild, John Grant Preston, Jr., “Little John”, when his father went off to serve his country. Don, Lane and Rita could not have been happier during those years.

Rita and Don loved weekly dancing, traveling in their motor home, and caring for their dog(s). Rita was an active member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West. During her 70 plus years with the organization she held and served every office several times over.

Rita was a dedicated mother to Lane. She never missed a sporting event, a nightly sit down dinner at the table, Sunday church, Parent Teacher conference, and unfortunately too many to count Principal Parent meetings. Rita constantly had a house full of kids and traveled in and out of the state with other parents to watch their son’s baseball games. She was a den mother for Lane's scouting events and surpassed most men in the outdoor hiking and adventures with her boys.

After the passing of Don, Rita was lucky enough to marry Colonel Charles Coffman. The Colonel and Rita moved to his home in Citrus Heights, California where the two were constantly visiting other countries and attending military functions. Occasionally she gave him a rest and went solo to the local Native Daughters events. They were very blessed to have the Colonel’s son, Lt. Col. Charles Coffman and daughter-in-law Margaret in the same town who were always taking them to events in and around the city.

Within a year of the Colonel’s passing she moved back to be close to her family in Camarillo and Ventura. She lived on her own until she was ninety five years old, when she moved into the Compassionate Care Home in Thousand Oaks. There the owners, David and Kathi Long, along with Ella Espiritu loved and pampered Rita until her final three days when she went to be loved on and cared for by Tender Loving Hospice Care in Moorpark.

Rita was preceded in her passing by her husbands; two step sons John and Tom Preston; and grandson Sean Martin Preston.

Rita leaves behind son Lane Jackson; step children Steve Kent, Michelle Coffman, and Lt. Col. Charles Coffman; daughters-in-laws Laurie Jackson, Andrea Jackson, Connie Preston, and Margaret Coffman; grandchildren Trevor and Sarah Jackson, Mikel and Ashley (Jackson) Golden, JuliAnn Crommelin, Kelly and Sean Wiser, Robyn Taylor, Brian and Heather Coffman, John Preston, Jr., and Eron Milam; great grandchildren Hayley and Tanner Jackson, Abigail, Grant and Olivia Golden, Juliet, Keira, and Charlie Coffman Sean Preston Martin, Sarah Boyles, Daniel and Heather Preston, Desiree Preston Fischer and Kristine Preston, Savannah and Terry Milam; great great grandchildren Jonathan Martin and Sean Martin Jr., Briella, and Austin Preston, Preston Grant, Johnnie and Brynleigh Lindsey, Aubree and David Boyles.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com