Rita Coffey

The home-going celebration of Rita Hohmann Coffey, 76, of Chatfield will be on Friday. Rita went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, following a lengthy illness. She fought a hard battle to the end. Rita was born Feb. 20, 1930, in Mainz, Germany, to Valentine and Anna Maria Hohmann. She met the love of her life, Leon, in Germany during his time served in Mainz, Germany, during World War II. They married in Germany and she joined the Coffey family in Chatfield in the 1950s. She was known for baking and sharing of her wonderful cakes and candies. She was known to all as a giver of herself to others. She enjoyed trying new recipes that she received from her family in Germany as well as the many cherished cookbooks she used, especially her "Taste of Home" selections. She loved her church family and the many longtime friends she had there. She came to know the Lord under the pastorate of Brother B.J. and Sister Jimmie Johnson. She was a longtime member of First Pentecostal Church of God, now Calvary Worship Center of Corsicana. The Coffey family would like to invite all of the friends and family of Rita Coffey to join them from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home to share the life of Rita and reminisce of the fun times she shared with everyone. The Coffey service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9, at Griffin-Roughton Chapel. The service will be held jointly by her nephew, the Rev. Bill Coffey, and her pastor, Dr. Gary Johnson. Music will be provided by Mrs. Coffey's niece and nephew, Brenda and Mike Bailey. Interment will follow at New Chatfield Cemetery. Also at the interment will be the honorary ROTC flag corps in celebration in the home-going of Rita as well as reuniting with the love of her life, Leon. Lunch will be served in the fellowship hall at Calvary Worship Center. Pallbearers will be nephews Ronnie Ogburn, Roy Coffey, Tim Dickerson, Bill Coffey and Larry Horn. Honorary pallbearers will be great nephews ROTC Senior Airman Jeremy J. Bailey and ROTC Airman First Class Jody M. Bailey bearing commemorative flags from both Germany and the United States of America in memory of the meeting and marriage of Leon and Rita Coffey during World War II in Germany. She was preceded in death by her husband, R.L. "Leon" Coffey, the love of her life, in 1990; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Willie Mae Coffey Pierce of Ennis, Lee Roy Coffey of Brownsboro, Harvey Coffey of Chatfield, Billy D. Coffey of Corsicana and Birtie Faye Coffey of Corsicana. Also preceding her in death was Judy, her beloved rat terrier in 2003. Rita is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Gernot and Ann Marie Hohmann of Mainz, Germany; niece and nephew, Britta and Bernhard Ketzler, Nina and Marsha of Mainz, Germany; nephew and niece, Joerg and Janette Hohmann, Maja and twins Melina and Mirco of Mainz, Germany; nephew, Markus Hohmann of Dill, Germany; special cousins, Elizabeth and Andy of Germany; the Labon family of Telton, Germany; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Earl and Gladys Coffey Ogburn of Roane, George and Sandra Coffey of Chatfield, Carlos and Mary Coffey Garza of Corsicana, Troy Pierce of Ennis, Carolyn Coffey Horn of Corsicana, Evelyn Coffey of Brownsboro and Betty Coffey of Chatfield; and a host of nieces and nephews from both Texas and Germany as well as a host of cousins and relatives from Germany. A very special heartfelt thanks is extended by the family of Rita Hohmann Coffey to the second floor staff of Navarro Regional Hospital for providing exceptional care and consideration not only to Rita, but the family as well. We have never seen a more caring and considerate group of people! Another exceptional exhibition of love and care was shown by Dr. and Mrs. Kyle Hamilton. Rita considered the Hamiltons her extended family and we appreciate the fact that you reciprocated that love to our loved one.

Rita Coffey

February 20, 1930 - February 6, 2007