Frances G. Coffey
Frances G. Stonewall-Coffee, age 96, of Nevada, Iowa, died Monday, August 25, 2014, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, Iowa.
Graveside funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 28, 2014, at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Marshalltown, Iowa. There will be no visitation.
Frances was born in Marshall County, Iowa, on March 25, 1918, the daughter of Gifford and Hannah (Gunderson) Stonewall. She was raised on a farm and graduated from high school in Gilman, Iowa.
She met and married James C. Coffey on March 25, 1936. James always said it was taking care of two things at one time. The couple resided in Dunbar, Iowa, where Frances was Postmaster for the post office in their General Mercantile Store. It was here they decided to adopt two children. They then moved to Maxwell, Iowa, where Frances ran the cash register in their grocery store. Later they moved to Nevada, and both worked at Reuben H. Donnelly, Frances as a cook and James as a mechanic. This is where they retired.
Survivors include a daughter, Judith Coffey-Butler of Texas; a son, Michael James (Connie) Coffey of Pennsylvania; four grandchildren, Dean Redix and friend Missey Price, Annette Dunham and fiancé Charles Arnett, Merle James Patterson and fiancée Stephanie McManus, and Aaron Patrick Patterson and life partner John Flaherty; 13 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Norma (Lester) Campbell of Ames; and a brother, Robert (Donna) Stonewall of Gilman.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and several brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.
She was loved by many and will be missed.
Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Frances and her family.
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 9:41 AM
“Frances Coffey was so much to many people. I know because I'm one of them. She was my grandmother. In my eyes she was nothing short of a hero and amazing. She could do it all. She loved to sew, crochet, craft, cook, bake and take care of her family. She made the best rag dolls I had several of them growing up and loved them all. I still have one which I take great pride in. She made the best soft sugar cookies, homemade egg noodles, caramel corn, lefsa and so much more. She is why I love to cook and sew. Even after we moved from Iowa to Colorado she sent us fresh cookies and caramel corn regularly. We cherished every care package from her. I still have one of her crocheted blankets she made me when I was about 12 and when I'm sick its the only thing that makes me feel better. It's like having her arms wrapped around me again. She used to make the cutest Christmas decorations for us all. Tiny little ice skates , little boxes with tiny teddy bears in them, snow flakes ext. I remember when I moved back to Iowa for a short time with my two oldest children, she would come into the bakery where I worked. She said it was for the cinnamon bread and potato salad we made there but, I knew she was just being a good grandmother and checking up on me to make sure I was doing okay. Thank you grandma. Her family was her life. She took care of us all and if we needed anything we all knew all we had to do was ask and she would do her best to make sure we had it. She took care of gramps too. She was up at the crack of dawn or before cooking, cleaning and sewing that was just her way. I know we used to drive her nuts playing with that old spring door stop in the living room. She would get onto us a little bit about it and gramps would say Frances leave them alone they are having fun. When he'd had his fill he would say ok thats enough go play outside or in the basement. They were the best grand parents. There is so much more I could say about her but, it would take a lifetime. She was just an amazing woman, she was my "Wonder Woman" and so much more. I will miss her with all of my heart and soul. I love you grandma and I will never forget you.”
- Annette Dunham
