Judith Elaine Coffey

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Judith Elaine Coffey (née Giesey) passed away peacefully on April 29th in her home. She was 89 and surrounded by loved ones.

Judith is survived by her adoring family: son Gerald R Coffey, daughter-in-law Adrienne MacLeod-Coffey, daughter Camille Mayorga, son-in-law Bob Mayorga, niece Jeanne Newman, grandchildren Brian Mayorga Jr, Aaron Mayorga, Ian Coffey, and Ariana Mayorga, and great-grandchildren, Priscilla Florez, Noah Mayorga, Brian Mayorga, Leila Teague, Remi Coffey, Flora Coffey, and Amelia Coffey.

Judith was born in Oklahoma City on September 1st 1934. The last of seven siblings, Judith was a “surprise,” born 12 years after her closest older sibling when her mother, Dorothy, was 44. Dorothy was widowed when Judith was three, so life wasn’t easy as Dorothy had to return to nursing school and then work the graveyard shift to support them both. This contributed to Judith’s grit and value of work -- traits she passed on to her children.

Judith was fond of telling her children “My life began when I met your father.” She met the love of her life, Gerald L Coffey, in Oklahoma City for scuba diving lessons in 1957. They fell in love immediately and were married six weeks later. Together they raised a family and traveled the country while “Jerry” pursued a distinguished Civil Service career. With stops in Manitou Springs, Macon, Omaha, Panama City, Yuba City, and many more, their travels even took them to Tehran, Iran where the family lived in 1969 and again in 1975. 

Judith considered life an adventure and approached it with unfailing cheerfulness and optimism -- an undying gift and inspiration to her family and all who knew her. A wonderful wife and mother, Judith was the center of the family, making sure her children had every opportunity to learn and grow, including the best possible education. Responsible for the finances, she made the adventure work. From Asimov to Michener to Gabaldon, Judith was an avid reader. Imaginative and curious, she was always looking for new recipes and tracking health trends. From young bride to family matriarch, Judith led a charmed life which she lived to the fullest. 

Judith will be interred next to her beloved husband at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Rd, Dixon, CA 95620. Services will be held on Monday, May 13 2024 at 1:30 PM.