Cover photo for Ruth Marilynn Hodge Coffey's Obituary
Ruth Marilynn Hodge Coffey Profile Photo
1921 Ruth 2017

Ruth Marilynn Hodge Coffey

April 15, 1921 — November 9, 2017

Early November 9, 2017, at age 96, Marilynn passed into Eternity with God. Marilynn was the oldest of five children born to Harry Heard Hodge, Sr. and Adelena “Sug” Brown Hodge in Houston, Texas, 15 April 1921. She spent the first nine years of her life amidst extended family and the next two (during the Great Depression) living with relatives as the Reverend Hodge followed his commitment to Jesus Christ as a tent evangelist throughout Central Texas. In 1932, Brother Hodge moved his family to Beaumont, Texas, and founded Sabine Tabernacle. Marilynn was active in her new church, primarily in vocal music.

In her late teens, Marilynn married Jesse Coffey, who was soon on active military duty in World War II. The U.S. Army assigned Jesse to a shipping port in Vancouver, Canada. With a few hundred dollars in her pocket, Marilynn traveled alone to “find’ her husband, an illegal and daring venture into and across the wild west of Canada by train. She ended up with a job at Boeing in Vancouver secured providentially on that train trip.

After World War II, her husband Jesse worked for Standard Oil (shipping dock superintendent), rice farmed on the side, and eventually began breeding cattle. When she was not helping Jesse maintain an irregular work schedule and attending to matters on the farm and the ranch, Marilynn tailored ladies’ dresses. She was accomplished at everything she set out to do.

Marilynn was an avid reader and an adept conversationalist. In her senior years, Marilynn began painting in water colors and acrylic, expressing her love for the outdoors in large and small paintings of flowers and fields. Marilynn’s expressions of beauty will be enjoyed by friends and family for years to come. Her kindness made others feel welcome, and her constructive outlook on life influenced her family and friends.

Professionally, for decades she was active in the Woman’s Club of Beaumont, Texas, and provided leadership and encouragement. Marilynn did everything with class, a positive attitude and cheerfulness.

Marilynn was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Lee Coffey; parents, Harry H. Hodge, Sr. and Adelena Brown Hodge; brother, Paul Brown Hodge; brother and sister-in-law, Harry H. Hodge, Jr. and Billie Craig Hodge; and sister, Jo Ann Hodge. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Lewis and Elizabeth Hodge; nephew and wife, Craig and Lois Hodge; niece and husband, Patti Hodge and Ronnie Wilson; nephew, Robert Hodge; great-nephews and wives, Mark and Kasey Hodge, Paul and Angela Hodge; great-nephews, David Gibson, Daniel Gibson, and Timothy James Hodge; great-nieces, Anna Gibson, and Andrea Gibson; and her faithful friend, Jessie Hunter.

The family is thankful for the lovely year Marilynn had at Atria Collier Park Senior Living Center and the three years of loving care from all the staff at College Street Health Care Center.

The Family will receive friends in the Sabine Tabernacle sanctuary on Tuesday, November 14, from 1:00 p.m. until the funeral service that follows at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Salvation Army.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Marilynn Hodge Coffey, please visit our flower store.

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Visitation

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

1:00 - 2:00 pm (Central time)

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Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)

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