Mr. Coffey was born October 20, 1942 in Caldwell County to the late Willie Calvin Coffey and Macy Martin Coffey.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, William Harper Coffey.
Mr. and Mrs. Coffey established Metalx, Inc., in 1980. Mr. Coffey held several patents for products developed for the metal finishing industry. Being an environmentalist before it became fashionable, the products sold by Metalx for the metal finishing industry were environmentally non-toxic alternatives to the conventional acids and cyanide-based formulations that were currently being used. Approved and recommended by the EPA, they were quickly adopted by aerospace, governmental facilities, and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. Barry quickly became an advisor, trouble-shooter, and valued consultant for many in the metal finishing industry. Deeply devoted to his hometown and the region, Barry chose to make his homeplace and Lenoir the base for manufacturing and world-wide distribution of his formulas.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Gayle Coffey of the home, daughter, Dr. Tonya Coffey and husband Dr. Christopher Thaxton of Boone and their children, Nick and Zoe Thaxton, a brother, Thomas L. (Tommy) Coffey and wife Patsy of Lenoir and a sister-in-law, Virginia Sue Coffey.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, January 25, 2019 at 7 pm in the Chapel of Pendry’s Lenoir Funeral Home with Dr. Christopher Thaxton officiating.
The family will receive friends from 5:30 pm until.7:00 pm, prior to a brief service at Pendry’s Lenoir Funeral Home.
Words of comfort may be expressed to the family at www.pendrysfuneralhome.com.
Pendry’s Lenoir Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Barry Weldon Coffey.
