Eileen Spray Coffin

EILEEN SPRAY COFFIN

Fairfield

Eileen Spray Coffin, 86, of Fairfield, formerly Richland, IA, passed away Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at Parkview Care Center in Fairfield, Iowa. She was born March 10, 1934, at home in Washington County, Iowa, east of Brighton, near Hungry Hollow. She was the daughter of Carl E. and Phyllis (Lowe) White, who proceeded her in death.

She married John Theodore (Ted) Spray on March 21, 1949. They shared 48 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on March 24, 1997. Eileen then married Kenneth Coffin on June 10, 2001, and he preceded her in death on November 23, 2005.

Eileen was a dedicated "farm wife" for over 60 years. She retired from Pekin Community School District near Packwood, Iowa after working for 27 years as a school bus driver. She worked other jobs over the years, a factory, detasseling corn, picking apples for Kime Orchard in Richland, Iowa, and mowing several cemeteries in the Richland area. Her favorite job was bus driving and she cared about all of her "bus kids."

She thoroughly loved attending all Pekin School activities as keeping up with the kids kept her on the go and kept her young at heart. Eileen was also a past president and member of the Richland Lions Club, Jefferson County Porkettes, Jefferson County Cowbells, Arborvitae Club, Pekin Music Boosters and Woolson Cloverleaf Club. Eileen was a past member of the Richlands Friends Church where she served as the church superintendent and taught Sunday school. She was currently a member of the Woolson Friends Church where she served as a member of the Ministry Council, Secretary/Treasurer of the Woolson Friendly Folks Sunday School Class and was a member of the missionary aid.

Eileen loved to sew, paint, play cards and board games. Family was very important to Eileen. She is survived by five children: Glenda Hunt (Paul) of Kirksville, Missouri; Deanna Spray of Columbia, Missouri; Gordon Spray (Chrissy) of Port St. Lucie, Florida; Shelli Spray of Vancouver, Washington; Steven Spray (Teresa) of Jay, Florida; one daughter-in-law, Sherri Spray; one son-in-law, Keith E. White; one sister, Darlene Bixby; one brother, Keith P. White (Susan); one sister-in-law, Edith Davison (Bonnie); 22 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by one daughter, Dolores Hope White; two sons, John Rick Spray and Randall Craig Spray; one grandchild, Jona Kayleen Davis; one brother, Carl E. White Jr.; three brothers-in-law, James Spray, George Bixby and Jack Hesseltine; and two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Hesseltine and Carol Madden.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, February 22, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at Woolson Friends Church in Richland, Iowa with Pastors Kevin Rohr and Harlan Van Voorst officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday, February 21, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Gould Funeral Home in Richland, Iowa. Burial will immediately follow the service at Richland Friends Cemetery in Richland, Iowa. Memorials are suggested to Woolson Friends Church, 1005 Jasmine Avenue, Richland, Iowa. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the family asks all to wear masks. Gould Funeral Home of Richland is in charge of arrangements.