Paul Bernard “Uncle Bee” Coffman, 80, of Utopia died on July 5, 2016 at his residence of natural causes. He was born on Jan. 24, 1936, in Huntington, West Virginia to Eva (Mannion) and Emmett Coffman. He was the youngest of three children. He served in the U.S. Army for twenty years, retiring as a Sergeant First Class. On June 7, 1966, he wed Mary Ann Simons in Hondo. After working briefly as a custodian for Utopia Independent School District, he gained employment with Texas Parks and Wildlife as a park ranger for Lost Maples State Park, from which he ultimately retired to become full time caretaker to his ailing wife. The family says his life was a living example of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Coffman is survived by one brother, Arnold Coffman, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; one sister-in-law, Faye Thomas, of Houston; four nieces, Brenda Saunders, of Springfield, Ohio, Marsha Fensternmaker, of Daytona Beach, Florida, Lisa Henney and husband, Patrick, of Houston, and Leigh Ellis and husband, Andy, of Cypress; one nephew, Dexter Rainey and wife, Heidi, of Vanderpool; six great-nieces, Shannon Young and husband, Russell, of San Antonio, Nicole Ford and husband, Rob, of Delaware, Ohio, Meghan Rainey of Vanderpool, Lara Henney and Emily Henney, both of Houston, and Abby Ellis of Cypress; four greatnephews, Ron Saunders and wife, Mackenzie, of Decatur, Georgia, Colton Rainey, of Vanderpool, and Jack Ellis and Sam Ellis, both of Cypress; and numerous great-great nieces and nephews. Coffman was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, and one sister, Krestina Leonard. A memorial service was held on July 9 at 11 a.m. at the Utopia Baptist Church with Lee Bevly presiding. Honorary pall bearers were Josh Cantrell, Andy Ellis, J.R. Felkins, Justus Felkins, Micah Felkins, Rob Ford, Patrick Henney, Quelan Lancaster, David Rainey, Dexter Rainey, Shawn Rainey, Ron Saunders, and Russell Young. Coffman’s ashes will be interned with military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Utopia Baptist Church, P.O. Box 240, Utopia, TX 78884 or the Utopia Emergency Medical Services, P.O. Box 393, Utopia, TX 78884.
RUSHING-ESTES-KNOWLES MORTUARY, WWW.REKFUNERALS.COM
Rate this article: