Jessie Lee Coffey Given, born Aug. 13, 1911 in Junction City, Kan., died Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 at her home in Foley.
She was educated in Junction City and at the Dague Business University in Wichita, Kan.
She was a secretary at the Kansas State Highway Department for two years. Before World War II she helped her father get his road construction business started by cooking at his construction camp. During World War II she was operations and personnel manager for the Army PX Exchange in Fort Riley, Kan., Chicago and Camp Chaffee, Ark. She was also operations and personnel manager for the Command School at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Following World War II, she managed and supervised three ladies Ready-to-Wear stores for a chain in Kansas City, Topeka, Kan., and Wichita. Later she had stores in Phoenix and Los Angeles.
In 1963, she and her husband retired Col. William J. Given, moved to Foley in Baldwin County. She started an antique store in Foley and began participating in antique shows in seven surrounding states. She had been in the antique business in Foley for the past 44 years. She had one of the most pristine antique shops in Alabama and specialized in imported, hand restored, French, English and Irish accent pieces. She said 95 percent of her business was return, referral.
She was a large benefactor to St. John’s Military School in Salina, Kan. Over the past 15 years she paid tuition for students who were unable to pay, she provided computers for the technology center, a bus for the ROTC Department, tools for the wood shop and furniture for recreational rooms for the students. She furnished and helped to renovate a chapel on the campus there in Salina. She helped with furnishing and renovation to Mize Hall and Stephens Center.
She was also a benefactor to Marion Military Institute where her husband and great-grandson were both graduates. She helped to pay tuition for students who were unable to pay and helped with improvements on campus.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, james W. Coffey and Kathleen Mae Switzer-Coffey; sister, Gladys Coffey Skaggs; brother, James Edward Coffey; and son, Donald J. Thompson.
Survivors include one granddaughter, Cynthia Lee Thompson (Larry) McCallister of Overland Park, Kan.; great-grandson, Daniel P. (Ashley) Moran of Vestavia Hills; nephew, J. Milton Skaggs, and niece, Dr. Sharron Skaggs McReynolds, both of Dodge City, Kan.
Private graveside services will be held in Junction City with the Episcopalian priest at St. John’s Military School in Salina officiating.
Honorary pallbearers are 1st Sgt. Amon Tidmore, ROTC instructor at St. John’s Military School; retired Navy E.A. “Skip” McAlexander, past president of St. John’s Military School; and Col. Jerry Bradley, past commandant of St. John’s Military School.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the chapel at St. John’s Military School, P.O. Box 5020, Salina, KS 67402.
Arrangements were made by Mack Funeral Home & Crematory, Robertsdale, and Pennwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, Junction City, Kan.
