Betsy Rosse Coffey

Betsy Rosse Smith Coffey passed away June 9, 2012 in San Angelo. Betsy (or “Mur” as she was known) was born July 10, 1920 on the family’s Charco Marine Ranch (that she dearly loved) southwest of Ft. Davis. She was the middle daughter of Tyrrel Ernest (Tio) and Edna Rosse (Aunt Edna) Smith and a granddaughter of Claude and Lou Jones Smith.

Betsy was Valedictorian of her Ft. Davis High School class of 1938. She went on to earn a degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1942, where she was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority.

Betsy married Robert H. “Bob” Coffey (whom she met at Bloys Campmeeting) in 1942. He preceded her in death in 1972. Also preceding her in death were her parents and her sister Marylou Smith Hughes.

Betsy (along with Bob) worked at the Army Air Corps training base at Pecos during WWII. After the war, she began a long teaching career that spanned almost thirty years. She first taught in Pecos, followed by substitute teaching in Austin and then taught many years in San Angelo. During this time she raised her three boys, constantly supporting them in their busy work, school and sports activities that often stretched her daily schedule into the wee hours of the morning. She instilled in them the importance of an education and all three obtained four-year college degrees. Betsy not only helped her own sons and grandchildren, she typed and proof read essays, research papers and dissertations of friends and other family members. She was the one “constant” in the lives of her immediate and extended family and could always be relied on in family emergencies. She spent her retirement years following the activities of her grandchildren. She never missed an occasion to support them and cheer them on, whether it was a theatrical or musical performance, sporting event, livestock show, birthday or graduation. She was always a willing babysitter, chauffeur, tutor or just a really good chocolate chip cookie maker.

Betsy was proud of her pioneer heritage and her connection to the Bloys Campmeeting Association. Her grandparents, Claude and Lou Smith, participated in the very first gathering held under the oaks in Skillman Grove in 1890. Like her father Tio, she never missed a single meeting held during her lifetime.

Betsy is survived by her three sons and their wives and children: Robert and Jan Coffey of San Angelo and his sons Curt and Ken (and their mother Prissy Coffey), Bill and Mary Coffey of San Angelo and his children Beth and Rich (and their mother Jeanie Coffey), and Bud and Adele Coffey of Ft. Davis and their children Ross, Aurie and Crain. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Caylan, Cortney and Casey, her sister Doris Smith of Ft. Davis, a cousin Jiggs Devolin of El Paso, several nieces, a nephew and many friends who were all a big part of her life.

A visitation will be held at Johnson’s Funeral Home in San Angelo from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. on Monday, June 11, 2012. A funeral service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Ft. Davis on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. with burial immediately following in the Hillcrest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be made to the Bloys Campmeeting Association, Hospice of San Angelo or their favorite charity.