Eighth Generation

10754. Wayne Monroe Coffey was born on 7 August 1921 in Kings Creek, Caldwell Co., NC.³¹⁴⁹⁵ Wayne died at Wilkes Regional Medical Center in Wilkesboro, Wilkes Co., NC on 27 May 1999 and was buried at Scenic Memorial Gardens in Wilkesboro, Wilkes Co., NC on 29 May 1999 .^31496,31497

Obituary, The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, Sat., May 29, 1999

Mr. Wayne M. Coffey age 77 of Forest Hill Drive, Wilkesboro, died Thursday, May 27, 1999, at Wilkes Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, 2:00 PM, at the First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro with Dr. N. Nelson Granade, Jr. and Dr. Paul Brunner officiating. Entombment will be at Scenic Memorial Gardens in Wilkesboro. The family will receive friends at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in North Wilkesboro Saturday night from 7 until 9.

Mr. Coffey was born in Caldwell County, NC on August 7, 1921, the son of James William and Myra Coffey.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Watson Coffey of the home; two sons, Gary Wayne Coffey of Wilkesboro, NC, Rickie Eugene Coffey of Lenoir, NC; one daughter, Kelia Dawn Coffey of Winston-Salem, NC; three grandchildren, Ashton Elizabeth Coffey of Wilkesboro, Kirsten Leigh Coffey and Corbin Thomas Coffey of Lenoir, NC; and one brother, Wade S. Coffey of Vansant, VA.

Mr. Coffey was educated in the public schools of Caldwell County, attended James Milligan University in Decatur, IL and worked with North Carolina State University on their Engineering Council. He began his work in the field of furniture manufacturing with the Galvin Furniture Company and moved up to the position of General Manager before moving to Louisville, KY to take the position of Vice-President of Manufacturing of the Mengel Company which included plants in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and North Carolina.

Mr. Coffey moved to North Wilkesboro, NC in September, 1953 to take a position as Vice-President of Manufacturing of American Furniture Company. In 1955, he was one of the four founders of the Drew Furniture Company in North Wilkesboro, NC. In 1970, the American Furniture Company and the Drew Furniture were combined to become American & Drew Furniture Company, Inc. Mr. Coffey served as Executive Vice-President until he was promoted to President, where he remained until his retirement.

Mr. Coffey was very active in the affairs of the state, county, and towns. He was a member of the North Wilkesboro Lions club, having served as President. He also served as District Governor of Lions International. Mr. Coffey served as President of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Elks Club of North Wilkesboro. He served as President of the Wilkes YMCA, where he held a Life Board Membership and was Chairman of the Building Committee for the YMCA Expansion Program. He was Chairman of the local Board of Directors of Wachovia Bank until recent retirement.

Mr. Coffey was a member of the First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, NC where he taught Sunday School for several years. He also served as Superintendent of the Sunday School, Chairman of the Building Committees for the present sanctuary and the John T. Wayland Fellowship hall. He served First Baptist as a deacon for some thirty years and as Chairman of the Board for 12 times.

Mr. Coffey served in the Army Air Force during World War II. He flew combat on B-17 Bombers over Europe and completed a tour of duty with the Eighth Air Force. During his tour of duty, he was awarded the Distinguished flying Cross, the Air Medal on 5 occasions, the European Theater of Operations with four Battle Stars and the Presidential Citation.

Mr. Coffey was a member of the Goldfish Club of the Air Force for escape with his crew after being shot down in the North Sea. He was a member of the Oakwoods Country Club where he served a term as President and was an avid golfer. Mr. Coffey was one of the original members of the General James B. Gordon Camp #810 The Sons of Confederate Veterans in Wilkesboro, NC. He also served on the Board of Trustees for Meredith College in Raleigh, NC for several years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, PO Box 458, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

A living couple was married in 1943 in York, York Co., SC.³¹⁴⁹⁸ Living (private).

Wayne Monroe Coffey and Living had the following children: