Fred was born on May 4, 1936 in Wellsville, Ks to Joseph Richard Coffey and Marybelle Rousselo. Fred was raised by his Uncle Harry and Aunt Etta Gutshall in Rossville, KS on a 360-acre farm. Fred helped with the planting and cultivation of crops such as corn, wheat, and alfalfa and any other chores that needed to be done to keep the farm going. Fred dearly loved his Aunt Etta and appreciated what she did for him. Fred was a 4H member and a boy scout. He attended and graduated from Rossville High School in 1956 and went on to attend the Kansas State University. Fred joined the Navy in 1953 at the end of the Korean war and was assigned to the USS Shangri La; he was a caterpillar tractor operator. He operated a D-W10 in the construction of roads. He had a mechanic rating; with metal shop, machine shop, wood shop, and agriculture studies experience. Fred was honorably discharged in 1955 due to medical injuries.
Fred was a hard worker throughout his life. He worked for Henry Manufacturing, Del Monte Foods for 10 years, the Rochelle Illinois Power Plant for 10 years, operated the Fontana Tavern when he moved back to Kansas. He worked for the LaCygne Power Plant, the Osawatomie State Hospital, Fickel Furniture, and ended his employment at the Happy Valley Ranch with 19 years of employment, when they closed their doors. Fred was 78 years old when he was forced into retirement. Fred said, “I always started at the bottom and worked my way up.”
When asked what some of his proudest accomplishments were, he stated, “I was in the Who’s Who of America, I won four trips through the Ralston Purina Feed; getting to visit Chicago, Washington DC, Corpus Cristi TX, and to St. Louis.” He stated that he once rode to Mississippi on a paddle boat. Fred taught Sunday school to the younger children at the church he attended in his younger years. His first car was a 1941 Ford Coupe that he bought when he was in the 8th grade with his own money. Fred said he had a lot of fun in the backseat of that car.
Fred and Mary Eagan were married for 25 years and they had three children, Jane, Timothy and Richard. The marriage ended in divorce. Fred then moved back to Kansas where he met and then married Patsy Feighner. Upon this union Fred gained 6 more children; Mike, Kim, Kelly, Chris, Michelle, and Mark. Fred and Pat loved to dance. Fred said that this was where they went on their first date, dancing. Fred always told his children that he got to do more as an adult than he did as a younger man. Attending the circus, going to the Nascar races, to the KC Chiefs and Royals games. Fred loved his sports and politics. He liked to go camping, fishing, and to the car shows. His utmost favorite thing was spending time with the kids and “especially my grandchildren,” he would say.
Fred was preceded in death by his wife Patsy Coffey, his parents, siblings: Shirley Kitto, Sheldon Eugene “Gene” Baugher, Mary Lou Hancock, Dickey Coffey, Etta Yvonne, Barbara Jo Coffey, Phyllis Stadler, Gary Lee Coffey, and Patty Coffey. His sons Timothy and Richard Coffey, niece Mary Lois Tyrrell, nephews, Ed & Mike Lewis, Paula Freneir, Patrick Lewis, Michael Crawford, and a grandson Army Sgt. Jeffery Mersman.
He is survived by his daughter Jane (Joe) Redcliff of Rochelle, Illinois, son Mike Ritch of Paola KS, daughter Kim Ritch of Lane KS, son Kelly (Kathy) Feighner of Lane KS, son Chris (Mary) Ritch of LaCygne KS, Michelle (Mike) Chester of Osawatomie KS, son Mark (Jody) Ritch of Paola KS, many nieces and nephews, 20 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren with 3 more on the way.
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