James Leonard Coffman

James Leonard (J.L.) Coffman passed peacefully on April 29, 2023.
J.L. was born on January 9, 1933 in Cherokee, Texas to Leonard D. and Lora (Ideus) Coffman. He graduated from Cherokee High School, studied Animal Husbandry at Texas A&M U...
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James Leonard (J.L.) Coffman passed peacefully on April 29, 2023.
J.L. was born on January 9, 1933 in Cherokee, Texas to Leonard D. and Lora (Ideus) Coffman. He graduated from Cherokee High School, studied Animal Husbandry at Texas A&M University, graduating in 1955. The following year, he married Janice Keith of Borger, Texas, and was blessed with three children, Jim, John and Janna.
J.L. enjoyed a long life full of adventure, danger and fun. He loved every kind of animal, eating good beef and having a good belly laugh as often as possible. He raised Appaloosa horses, Hereford and Longhorn cattle and Darfur sheep. He spent years as a horseman operating a carriage business in Galveston, Texas, instantly making strangers into friends and carrying hundreds of newlyweds, merrymakers and dignitaries in parades and important events over the years.
He is survived by three children; son, James (Jim) R. Coffman, his wife, Terri (Rowland) Coffman, of Centennial, Colorado; son, John L. Coffman of Midland, Texas; and daughter, Janna Coffman Donovan and her husband, David T. Donovan, of Louisville, Kentucky. He is survived by six grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Mason B. Coffman, J. Chaney Coffman and his wife Katie (Wright) Coffman and Kennedy A. Coffman, all of Midland, Texas; Chase J. Coffman of Centennial, Colorado; Madeline K. Coffman of Austin, Texas and Sean D. Donovan of Cincinnati, Ohio; and great-grandson and namesake, James Matthews Coffman of Midland, Texas. He is also survived by a whole host of nephews, nieces and their spouses and children that he adored.
He is proceeded in death by his father, Leonard D. Coffman; mother, Lora (Ideus) Coffman and siblings: Helen Margaret Coffman Louge, Elizabeth Jane Coffman Trojcak and William S. (Bill) Coffman; and his daughter-in-law Melinda Matthews Coffman.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 2pm at the Cherokee Church of Christ, 308 South Indian Ave, Cherokee, Texas. Burial to follow at Cherokee Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Cherokee Home for Children, chc4kids.org, P.O. Box 295, Cherokee, Texas 76832; 13355 TX-16, Cherokee, Texas 76832.a
Close the Gate © Poem by Nancy Kraayenhof, adapted by Janna Donovan
For this one horseman the worries are over, lie down and rest your head,
Your time has been and struggles enough, put the carriage in the shed.
Years were not easy, many downright hard, but your faith in God transcended,
Put the horses in the pen and sleep in peace. The fences have all been mended.
You raised a fine family, worked the land well under the hot, summer sun,
Hang up your saddle inside the barn; your work on earth is done.
A faith few possess led your journey thru life, often a jagged and stony way,
The sun is setting, the hay is harvested and here now is the end of your day.
Your love of God's soil has passed on to your kin, the stories flow like good beer,
Wipe off your boots at the front of the porch, for there is nothing more to fear.
You always believed that the good Lord would provide and He always has somehow,
Take off your hat and put it away, no more sweat and worry for your brow.
Your labor is done, your home now is heaven; no more must you wait,
Your legacy lives on, your love of the Land,
and yes Dad - we will close the gate...
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James Leonard (J.L.) Coffman passed peacefully on April 29, 2023.
J.L. was born on January 9, 1933 in Cherokee, Texas to Leonard D. and Lora (Ideus) Coffman. He graduated from Cherokee High School, studied Animal Husbandry at Texas A&M University, graduating in 1955. The following year, he married Janice Keith of Borger, Texas, and was blessed with three children, Jim, John and Janna.
J.L. enjoyed a long life full of adventure, danger and fun. He loved every kind of animal, eating good beef and having a good belly laugh as often as possible. He raised Appaloosa horses, Hereford and Longhorn cattle and Darfur sheep. He spent years as a horseman operating a carriage business in Galveston, Texas, instantly making strangers into friends and carrying hundreds of newlyweds, merrymakers and dignitaries in parades and important events over the years.
He is survived by three children; son, James (Jim) R. Coffman, his wife, Terri (Rowland) Coffman, of Centennial, Colorado; son, John L. Coffman of Midland, Texas; and daughter, Janna Coffman Donovan and her husband, David T. Donovan, of Louisville, Kentucky. He is survived by six grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Mason B. Coffman, J. Chaney Coffman and his wife Katie (Wright) Coffman and Kennedy A. Coffman, all of Midland, Texas; Chase J. Coffman of Centennial, Colorado; Madeline K. Coffman of Austin, Texas and Sean D. Donovan of Cincinnati, Ohio; and great-grandson and namesake, James Matthews Coffman of Midland, Texas. He is also survived by a whole host of nephews, nieces and their spouses and children that he adored.
He is proceeded in death by his father, Leonard D. Coffman; mother, Lora (Ideus) Coffman and siblings: Helen Margaret Coffman Louge, Elizabeth Jane Coffman Trojcak and William S. (Bill) Coffman; and his daughter-in-law Melinda Matthews Coffman.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 2pm at the Cherokee Church of Christ, 308 South Indian Ave, Cherokee, Texas. Burial to follow at Cherokee Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Cherokee Home for Children, chc4kids.org, P.O. Box 295, Cherokee, Texas 76832; 13355 TX-16, Cherokee, Texas 76832.a
Close the Gate © Poem by Nancy Kraayenhof, adapted by Janna Donovan
For this one horseman the worries are over, lie down and rest your head,
Your time has been and struggles enough, put the carriage in the shed.
Years were not easy, many downright hard, but your faith in God transcended,
Put the horses in the pen and sleep in peace. The fences have all been mended.
You raised a fine family, worked the land well under the hot, summer sun,
Hang up your saddle inside the barn; your work on earth is done.
A faith few possess led your journey thru life, often a jagged and stony way,
The sun is setting, the hay is harvested and here now is the end of your day.
Your love of God's soil has passed on to your kin, the stories flow like good beer,
Wipe off your boots at the front of the porch, for there is nothing more to fear.
You always believed that the good Lord would provide and He always has somehow,
Take off your hat and put it away, no more sweat and worry for your brow.
Your labor is done, your home now is heaven; no more must you wait,
Your legacy lives on, your love of the Land,
and yes Dad - we will close the gate...