Susan Miller Coffman

Trica was born June 24, 1944 to Susan and Charles Miller of Beverly Hills, CA. She was the third Susan Miller in the family so they nicknamed her Trica.

She was raised by her Grandparents Faye and Perry Armold in Glendale, CA. where she attended several private schools and upon high school graduation she chose to attend University of Miami Florida.

Dexter met Trica when he was working for her roommate’s boyfriend selling Trim-Twist, “the Executive Exerciser”. She was one of the models demonstrating Trim-Twist in the cosmetics department at Sears. They required that the models wear black leotards and when Dexter saw her, he knew he had to ask her out. She always told the story that Dexter fired her in order to get a date with her.

Dexter and Trica were married in 1967 and moved to Winter Park, FL where Dexter was born. Their son Leroy “Coffy” Coffman was born in Feb 1969 and their Daughter Paleyne Jarvis Coffman Peralez was born in 1971 in Atlanta, GA.

The family moved to Fresno in 1976 and raised their children in a loving close-knit family. Both children graduated from San Joaquin Memorial and attended and graduated from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

In 1988 Dexter and Trica invested in Tempest Technology, a company manufacturing positive pressure ventilation equipment for the firefighting industry. The family owned the company for 31 years and both children and daughter-in-law Tischa Johnson Coffman worked with them to make it successful. They traveled the world and made a difference in the way fire fighting was done, using “Air as a Tool” to clear a burning structure of heat, gas and smoke, enhancing safety for firefighters and speeding the rescue of victims.

During her time raising her children, she always said she had three children instead of just two, Trica was involved in the Junior League of Fresno and The Holiday Boutique. She enjoyed the many friendships she made through the Junior League and the Holiday boutique and she loved volunteering her time. She especially enjoyed helping young children to read. Trica had a love of reading and always had a book nearby.

Dexter and Trica sold the business in 2018 and bought a home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where they spent part of Feb, March and May to September each year.

They also owned Magic Moments Aloft a Hot Air Balloon Company and have flown balloons around the world since 1980 in places such as South Africa, Mexico, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and Switzerland. With Dexter as pilot and Trica as Chase Crew, they were a great team sharing their love of adventure with friends around the world. They choose a color design for the balloon that Leroy came up with and fly now in only Fresno and Jackson Hole, WY.

During Dexter’s time learning to be a hot air balloon pilot, he burned the skirt of the balloon several times, earning the nickname “Scorch”. This led to the design of a personal calling card with the name “Scorch” and three simple words to describe himself: Adventurer, Entrepreneur, Aeronaut.

Over the years Trica had earned a nickname for herself as well, “Chardonnay Lips”, which was her beverage of choice for many years. Dexter, Leroy and Paley decided that Trica needed a calling card as well. They struggled to find just three words to describe Trica. She was always so full of life, adventure and love; it was difficult to settle on only three. They decided to share their dilemma with Trica and she said it was easy, there was one phrase that said it all: Joie de Vivre or Joy of Life. Trica new how to find joy in her life and she always brought joy to other people’s lives.

The family spent many weekends on the California Delta near Stockton, CA on their 50’ power boat named the “Lazy Susan”. Trica served a term as Commodore of the Delta Yacht Club, being the first woman in the history of the club to hold that title. She definitely made her mark on the club and her picture still hangs in the clubhouse today.

In the mid-1990’s Dexter and Trica got into riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and had many adventures riding their bike to Sturgis, Alaska, across Canada, and all over the western United States. In recent years, Trica started riding her own motorcycle, a pearl-white Can-Am decked out as only a classy lady like Trica could. She would make the journey from Fresno to Jackson, Wyoming on her bike, making her the coolest grandmother in the world in the eyes of her grandkids.

Trica was a consummate entertainer and her home was often filled with friends and business partners from around the world. Nobody ever left her home, dubbed “Chateau Chardonnay” without a full belly and a glass or two of their favorite libation. If you had the luck of staying overnight, you would wake to a full breakfast spread, a pot of hot coffee, and a glass of champagne if you were so inclined.

Trica was a great animal lover, and her dogs always lived long and happy lives due to the care and attention Trica gave them.

Trica is survived by her husband Dexter, daughter, Paley and her husband Jesse Peralez, and their two children Joaquin 14 and Reese 13, and Jesse’s two boys Peyton 22 and Kobie 20, as well as son Leroy and his wife Tischa and their two girls Cassimira Jarvis 12, and Martina Rose 8.