On July 29, 2009, after a long and difficult fight with cancer, Bee Lynn Coffman Rippy joined her family members and friends in Heaven. Those members include her father, Buz Coffman; her husband, Vernon Rippy; her grandmother, Bee Lewis; her grandfather, Gordon Lewis; her great-grandparents, Henry and Flora Hughey; her grandmother, Devia Powell; her aunt, Mary Evelyn Smith; her aunt and uncle, Eugenia and Oscar McGough; cousins, Florence and Jr. Howard; her beloved adopted grandparents, Earle and Helen Crawford; her adopted aunt, Frances Spann; her dear friend, Sandy Hatfield; good friends, Barbara Tilker, Jane McKee, Mary Schellhase, Tommy Isbell, Phil and Mary Bell, Sammie Kouri, Mary Wesley, Loraine Hide and many other loved ones whom she loved with all her heart.
Bee Lynn was born in Wichita Falls on December 14, 1952, to Vaughn Coffman and Betty Malone Coffman. She attended Crockett Elementary School, Zundy Jr. High, Wichita Falls High School, where she belonged to the choir and National Honor Society. She attended MSU where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and was honored as their outstanding Education Major. She taught for seven years at Sheppard Elementary School. In 1986, Bee married Vernon Eugene Rippy and they established The Turorial Center which they operated for twenty years. Her life was greatly enriched by her many students.
She was Christian and joined the Cradle Roll at the First Presbyterian Church, and at the age of 12 she became a communicant member of First Presbyterian Church. Later she transferred her membership to Christ United Presbyterian Church where her funeral was conducted by Rev. Bob Brown on Friday, July 31, 2009, at 10:30 a.m.
Friends and family left to mourn her passing are her mother, Betty Coffman; her brother, Vaughn Z. Coffman; her uncle, Marlon Coffman of Hot Springs, Ark.; her extended family, Billie R. Isbell, whom she often introduced as her second mother, Charles M. Barnard; her adopted brother, Merle N. Anthony; her great-aunt, Merl Schellhase; her great uncle, good friend Ricki Knox.
The family would also like to express our sincere thanks to Betty Walton, Bertha Schenk and Billie Geis for their loving care of Bee. We would also like to express deep gratitude to the many doctors and medical personnel who made a concerted effort to help Bee Lynn in her fight with cancer.
Pallbearers included Steve Becknal, Charles Barnard, Hal Ray, Barry Macha, Vince Rincon, Mark Gilbow, Dave Murray, Dr. Dave Flack and Dr. Scott Parker.
Note: I never knew that Bee was related to Mrs. Anthony.
Rickey Mouze