John Cornelius Coffey, Jr.

John Cornelius Coffey, Jr.

1935-2024

John Cornelius Coffey, Jr.  88, went to be with our Lord October 13, 2024 in Edmond, Oklahoma. The son of John C. Coffey Sr.  and Sammie (Havener) Coffey. John was born December 7, 1935 in Wichita Falls, Texas. The Coffey family roots have been traced back to County Cork, Ireland.

John graduated from Wichita Falls High School, Class of 1953. John continued his education graduating from the University of Texas receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1958. He joined the University ROTC earning a rank of Lieutenant in the US ARMY.  While attending college in Austin, Tx, John Married Betty Ruth Richardson December 4, 1955 where 3 of their 4 children were born.  John Oliver (1956), Clyde David (1957) and Maria Denece (1958). Their fourth child Kenneth William was born in Kansas City, Mo (1964). John was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Tx as a Medical Corps Officer upon discharge he return to Wichita Falls where he was employed by Wichita Falls General hospital in the business office and the oxygen therapy department.

In 1960, John moved his family to Minneapolis, Minnesota to further his education. John graduated from The University of Minnesota with a Masters of Hospital Administration.  In 1962.  John began his professional career in Kansas City, Mo. as Administrative Resident at St. Luke’s Hospital as a ACHA Kellog Grantee. Upon completion of his residency, he was promoted to Assistant to Administrative Director in 1963. In 1964 he was named Interim Executive Director for St. Luke’s Hospital, until returning to Minneapolis, Mn as a partner in Molgren Research Associates. John returned to hospital administration in 1965 moving his family to Lawton, Ok. There he served from 1968-1985 as the President of the Comanche County Hospital Authority and the 252 bed Comanche County Memorial Hospital as well as the 117 bed McMahon Tomlinson Nursing Center.  His wife Betty (46) died unexpectedly October 26, 1979. John married Joanne Catherine (Trapp) Johnson on June 29, 1982 who would succumb to a battle with cancer (45) on January 15, 1989. In 1985, John was recruited by the Board of the Oklahoma Hospital Association where he served as President until his retirement in 1998.  John married once again on September 3, 1992 to Betty Carol (Moore) Coffey. John served as a delegate to the Regional Leadership Board of the American Hospital Association responsible for the leadership of association delegates to the National Convention in Washington D.C. where he met with US Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill. John served on presidentially appointed Health care reform committees. He was a “Life Fellow” of the American College of Health Care executives, serving as chairman of the membership committee. John served on many Boards and committees including: Adjunct Professor in Hospital Administration for Trinity University, The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Baptist University, Board of the O U Health Science Center serving 4 years including 1 year as Vice-Chairman of the Board, Board of Directors of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma for 12 years, during the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995 he played a role in the Health Care’s, Disaster Rapid Response and was a member of the 1991 Class of Leadership Oklahoma. John retired in 1998 as President Emeritus of the Oklahoma Hospital Association to “his little lake house” on Paradise Point, Grand Lake of the Cherokees outside Grove, Ok.  John would proudly tell inquirers he retired and moved to “Paradise”.  Never idle, even in retirement, John served on the Grove Hospital Board beginning in 1999, he quickly joined the Paradise Point Volunteer Fire Department, serving as Chief from 1999-2001 and remained an active medical first responder until 2005 when he “retired again’. John was a “Life Fellow” of the American College of Hospital Administrators.

John was involved in many organizations and hobbies:  The Knights of Columbus for 68 years serving as the Grand Knight in the Lawton, Ok chapter, was involved in Boy Scouts, achieving Eagle Scout status and serving as a Scout Master, earned his private pilot and glider license in 1974, ski-diving (badly twisting his ankle on his one and only jump), fishing and hunting ns spending time with family and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters Anna Marie Brignac and Patricia Shelton and grandson Tanner Wilmeth. Surviving family members: Children-John Coffey and his wife Kimberly of North Fort Myers, Fl. Their sons John Christopher and his wife Nikki and their sons Nathan and Nathaniel, Devin Edward and Dillon Oliver; C. David Coffey of Highland, Ca and his wife Teresa Steinbroner, their children Michael Austin and Carly Rose; daughter Maria Coffey of Warr Acres, Ok and her sons Matthew Thomas Machinski and his wife Mehgan and Andrew John Machinski; Kenneth  Coffey of Del City, Ok and his daughters Kayla Ruth Dickey and Jenifer Nicole Coffey; Scott Johnson and his wife Joann of Idabel and son Michael Jakob “Jake” Johnson of Stillwater, Lea Grimland of Manvel, Tx and her children Grant Micheal and Marlaina Marie; Matthew Johnson  and his wife Jennifer of Bixby, Ok and children Taylor Paige and Timothy Patrick; Stephanie Cricklin of Edmond, Ok and her children Kyle Andrew and Sydney Nicole; Jay Moore of Edmond, Ok Great Grandchildren Myla Nicole Machinski, Barrett Colt Machinski, Hunter Coffey.

 Brother-in-Law Dennis Moore with many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends turned family.

In lieu of flowers the family would like you to consider making donations to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation by clicking here.

Memorial Mass will be held Friday, October 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, 900 S. Littler Ave, Edmond, Ok 73034.

Inurnment will followed at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Wichita Falls, Tx.