Martha passed away peacefully on May 9, 2019. She lived a joyous life of 96 and a half years and openly shared her love and friendship with everyone. Although she was very frail the last year of her life, she had no fear of passing. Her outlook was always positive, and she treated each day as a blessing.
Martha was born to John Willard Burlingame and Esther Dixon Cleland Burlingame on Oct. 4, 1922 in Danbury, Wisconsin. Her parents moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota shortly after her birth, where she was raised, the oldest of 6 siblings. She married Arthur Wesley Coffland on May 19, 1944 in New Haven, Connecticut. She and Arthur lived in New Haven, Connecticut; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Honolulu, Hawaii; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Brooklyn Center, Minnesota; Omaha, Nebraska; Lake Bluff, Illinois; Owensboro, Kentucky; Issaquah, Washington; Kirkland, Washington and Newcastle, Washington.
She received degrees in teaching special education from Brescia College in Owensboro, Kentucky and Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She taught special education in Owensboro.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents John Willard Burlingame Sr and Esther Dixon Cleland Burlingame both of Minneapolis, Minnesota; her husband Arthur Wesley Coffland of Kirkland, Washington; her brother John Willard Burlingame Jr of Burlingame, California and her sister Doris Jean Burlingame Brimi of San Diego, California.
Martha is survived by 2 brothers, James Orlin Burlingame and Robert Kenneth Burlingame both of Minneapolis, Minnesota; her sister Esther Ann Burlingame Findell of Casa Grande, Arizona; her 3 daughters Carol Lynn Coffland Slack of Palm Springs, California, Laura Leigh Coffland Lewis of Franklin, Tennessee, Leslie Ellen Coffland Langhals of Kirkland, Washington; and her son, Brooks Carlton Coffland of Newcastle, Washington. She also is survived by 8 grandchildren and 17 greatgrandchildren.
A Memorial Service for Martha will be held on June 8, 2019 at Lake Washington United Methodist Church, 7525 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98033, at 1:00 PM. A reception at the church will follow the service. Flowers can be sent to the church or donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Lake Washington United Methodist Church.
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