James Wilbur Coffey

James Wilbur Coffey was born April 8,1945, in Toppenish, to Wilbur J. and Juanita M. (Patterson) Coffey, and then spent four months in St. Elizabeth Hospital, until finally going home. He attended Yakima Schools, graduating with the Davis class of '63 and has enjoyed reconnecting at their reunions. Shortly after graduation, he joined the Army where he helped build the Bankok Bypass in Thailand, and later spent four months in Germany before discharge.
When he returned to Yakima, he began his career in the tire business with Al Bariault, his best boss, and worked for various dealers in the area, until opening his own business at age 50. His customers knew they could count on him to be honest and dependable. He reluctantly closed Town and Country Tire when he became disabled but missed working the rest of his life. His good nature and distinctive laugh were easily recognizable, but he did not easily forgive or forget wrongdoing.
Jim was a fun-loving and popular guy, whose carefree bachelor life ended when he married Linda Lounsbury, in 1971. Socializing with friends and family, camping, fishing, boating, and water skiing continued, and when their two sons came along, their sports, scouting, and activities added to the fun. With large extended families there were also plenty of assorted family gatherings. He loved spending time with the grandchildren who were the light of his life.
Being a hard worker, Jim was the guy to call if you needed a helping hand. Many work parties, loads of wood cut, and building projects have taken place and helping each other made the hard work enjoyable. He liked to do his own mechanical work, and with a friend rebuilt a camper and converted a van to a motorhome. He liked old cars and had helped friends with their restorations and had acquired a 41 plymoth project car.
He's now joined a host of family and friends who preceded him into heaven, grandparents, parents, younger brothers, John (Earlene), Jeff (Kathy), several aunts, and uncles and numerous cousins. His wife, Linda, and son, Matthew (Julie), granddaughter, Tara, son Aaron (Lea), grandson Krishtian, granddaughters, Ireland, MacKenzie, and Independence, great-grandson, Jaxon James, sister, Renee (Mike) Thomas, and numerous extended family, to include aunts, and uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins, will dearly miss him, but are glad he suffers no more.
FISH ON!!
A Celebration of Life is planned for April 8, 2023, from 1:00-3:00pm, at the Ahtanum Youth Park Barn (1000 Ahtanum Rd., Union Gap, WA).
Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.