Jerry Lee Coffman

COFFMAN, HAWKINS, COPLEY, BONNER, SUNDQUIST, MORRIS, WILLIAMS, EDGE, ILD, THOMPSON, CARPENTER

Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 7/16/2024 at 11:06:58

Jerry Lee Coffman was born on May 30, 1938, in St. Clairsville, Ohio to Orville Coffman and Glenna Ruth Hawkins. He grew up in Fairmont and Richwood, West Virginia and graduated from Richwood High School. Jerry proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1956 until being honorably discharged in 1958. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Pepperdine University in 1986.

Jerry started his career working for Household Finance, then joined Security Pacific Bank as Branch Manager in various Southern California locations, and as vice president and manager for Security Pacific National Bank in Long Beach, California. He then became regional vice president and manager of National Bank of Southern California in Santa Ana, California. After moving to Muscatine in 1992, he worked for Farmers Insurance before becoming Muscatine County Treasurer. He held that position until his retirement in 2012.

Jerry was active in the community, serving on the community advisory board of Coastal Community Hospital in Santa Ana, California, as well as being a board member with Community Services Program in Irvine, California. While living in Muscatine, he served on the Muscatine General Hospital Board of Trustees. He also enjoyed volunteering for the Long Beach Marathon, the Tournament of Roses, and fundraising for many great causes.

If you knew Jerry, you knew that he never faced a situation where humor and sarcasm weren’t appropriate. For a man who lived through so much hardship, you could reliably count on his smile and laughter to brighten your day. Even during his final years of declining health, he always kept his sense of humor. Jerry was also a man of great style. Despite growing up in coal country in the Appalachians of West Virginia, he had a discerning, urbane fashion sense. Conservative with a flair, his was a gentlemanly style until old age dictated comfort over couture.

He was a voracious reader. He subscribed to and read multiple newspapers a day, and multiple mystery novels each week. His library was extensive. While he spent most of his life collecting books, he spent the other half giving them away to the Musser Public Library in Muscatine, Iowa. Along with signed first editions, Jerry also loved collecting stamps and coins. He also enjoyed running, golfing, target shooting, and country music, in reverse order. He loved watching football. On Saturdays he’d be rooting for his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes and West Virginia Mountaineers. On Sundays, no matter who was playing, he’d be watching “his team,” and he loved telling people when “his team” was winning.

If you knew Jerry, or “The Duke” as he was called in High School, it could have been from his time growing up in Fairmont or Richwood, West Virginia. Maybe you met him in Okinawa, where he was stationed with the Marine Corps, or from his early banking career in Pittsburgh, PA. Maybe you met him in Southern California, where his two sons were born, or in Iowa, where he spent the last three decades of his life. Wherever you knew him from, however long you knew him, you know that Jerry Lee was a loving, giving, sensitive man. He loved his family deeply and above all else, especially his two sons, Jason and Derek, and his former wife, Tita. He gave gifts in abundance and with abandon, particularly the gifts of laughter and affection.

If Jerry knew you, he is smiling down on you from heaven. Country Roads have taken him home.

He is survived by his two sons, Jason Coffman and Derek Coffman, siblings Patricia Copley, Sue Bonner, Emily Sundquist, Robert Morris, John Morris, Donald Williams, Lois Edge, Linda Ild, Mark Thompson, and Melanie Carpenter, his former spouse who was his caregiver for the last 6 years, Graciela “Tita” Coffman, and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, brothers David and Tim Coffman, Richard Morris, and Dennis Williams.

Honoring his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and formal services will be held in West Virginia. In lieu of flowers,

Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
 

Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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