Athel Mae Coffman

1916 - 2010

Athel Mae Coffman 1916 - 2010 Athel Mae Coffman, was born on November 23, 1916, near Eldorado, Oklahoma, to R.E. (Zeke) and Nora Nixon. The fifth child of a family of eight, Athel was preceded in death by five siblings: Douglas Nixon, Eunice Leary, Myrtle Allen, Mabel Leary, and Dimple Van Norman. Surviving sisters are Willie Dobbs of Fresno and Ila Robertson Henninger of Bakersfield. Athel was married to Dallas Coffman in 1937 and they moved to Bakersfield, California, that same year. They had been married 63 years when Dallas died in 1997. Athel's only son, Kenneth Coffman died in 2009. She leaves behind two daughters, Lois Caswell and husband Jim of Bakersfield and Judy Petters and husband Ted of Fresno, daughter in law Sherry Coffman of Bakersfield, five grand children, six great-grand children, and many nieces and nephews. Athel joined 1st Southern Baptist Church (now Columbus Street Baptist) in 1949 and attended there as long as she was able. Athel was always available to help her extended family, loving and caring for them in any way she could. She will be greatly missed. A celebration of Athel's life will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at Hillcrest Mortuary.