Aubrey Christine "Chris" Coffey, longtime Sherman resident and prodigious community volunteer, passed away at the age of 98 on December 23, 2023, at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, following a brief illness. Her long life was one distinguished by dedication and service to others.

Chris was born on September 5, 1925, in Van Alstyne, Texas, the eldest child of Aubrey Bennie Edwards and Pannie Dora Starnes. Following her graduation from Van Alstyne High School in 1943, Chris moved to Sherman where she began work at the local telephone company. It was while working there that she met James W. "J.W." Coffey, who would, on July 26, 1946, become her husband, a loving union that was to last 64 years. Over the course of the next three decades, Chris and J.W. welcomed two sons to the family, Michael A. "Mike" and Larry W., while J.W.'s retail sales skills resulted in management positions for him with the Sears, Roebuck Co. at the chain's stores in Salina, Kansas and Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was while living in Tulsa that the family became owners/operators of their own successful grocery business.

In 1976, with their sons grown, Chris and J.W. returned to Sherman, where they became members of the Central Christian Church. Chris was just over 50 years of age, and not wishing to completely retire, looked for something to "stay busy". She joined the Women's Auxiliary Group at Wilson N. Jones Hospital, a volunteer group charged with aiding the operation of the hospital and its patients. It wasn't long before the lessons Chris had learned and the outstanding business acumen she had acquired during the running of her own successful business were applied to her operation of the hospital gift shop, an enterprise which had been previously underused, but which had potential for growth.  Chris's entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic made her a natural selection for hospital gift shop manager, a position she held for many years. For over the next 22,000 volunteer hours encompassing 40+ years, Chris provided the hospital's Auxiliary with steady and innovative leadership. Among her accomplishments was creating the first WNJ Auxiliary scrapbook to win the state Grand Prize Award for all hospital auxiliaries in Texas. Chris's tireless service was important to the operation of Wilson N. Jones Hospital, and by extension, the people of Sherman and the surrounding area. Chris's was a long life, well lived.

Chris is preceded in death by her life's love, husband James W. Coffey, and members of her beloved family, parents Bennie and Pannie Edwards, and brothers Billy Ray Edwards and Benny Wayne Edwards, both life-long residents of Van Alstyne.

She is survived by cherished sons Mike and wife Randi of Puyallup, Washington and Larry and wife Connie of Lincoln, Nebraska, devoted sister Joyce Edwards Hill of Sherman, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Ted Coffey and wife Velda of Whitewright, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service celebrating Chris's life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman.

An online guest register can be signed at www.waldofuneralhome.com