Friday, January 29, 2016

Marie Alice Coffey

June 24, 1920 - Jan. 28, 2016

McCOOK, Neb. -- Marie Alice Coffey, 95, died Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, in McCook.

Marie was born June 24, 1920, in Morrill, Nebraska, to Roy M. and Delia (Phillipson) Chehey. Shortly after Marie's birth, the family moved to Maywood, Nebraska, where she spent her childhood. She began playing the piano for the church when she was in eighth grade. She graduated from Curtis High School in 1937. During high school, she accompanied for recitals throughout the area.

Marie majored in music education with an emphasis on piano and received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. She did additional study at Peru State, Kearney State, and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Marie taught public school music for 34 years, 24 years of which were in McCook. She previously taught in Brewster, Kansas, where she met her future husband, Ken. She also taught in Gothenburg and Red Willow (later Republican Valley) and Maywood.

Marie married Kenneth Coffey on July 1, 1944, in Trenton, New Jersey. While Kenneth was in the armed services overseas during World War II, Marie taught in Maywood. They moved to McCook in 1947. She became a member of the United Methodist Church in 1933. She has been associated with the music program of the church for over 60 years. She was actively involved in various community music activities. She was a 60-plus year member of Chapter FA of the PEO Sisterhood and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society. 1985 began a 31-year association with the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association as an accompanist for musical theatre productions.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; sister, Shirley Seidleman; brother, Max Chehey; and brother-in-law, James Seidleman.

She is survived by daughter, Karen and husband, Robert Hokom,of Farmington, New Mexico; son, Steve and wife, Anne Coffey of Grand Island, Nebraska; granddaughters, Emily (Bjorn) Baal of Farmington, New Mexico, Rachel (Travis) Morrison of Castle Rock, Colorado; great-grandchildren, Ymani, Thiago and Zander Baal; sister-in-law, Doris Chehey of Kearney, Nebraska; other relatives and many friends.

Visitation will be Tuesday and Wednesday, 4 to 7 p.m. at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook. Friends may go online at www.herrmannfh.com to extend condolences to the family.

The Celebration of Life for Marie will be Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook, Nebraska, with Rev. Doug Griger officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be given in her name to the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association.

Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.