Alma Coffey

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Alma Lorene Coffey, 80, of Sikeston passed away Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, at Saint Louis University Hospital.

She was born Feb. 15, 1934, in Tallapoosa, Missouri, daughter of Otto and Alice Bean. She was a graduate of Gideon High School, where she was a varsity cheerleader four years.

Alma attended Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, where she was a proud member of the All-Star All-Sport cheerleading squad.

She has been an active and devoted member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Sikeston many years. She lovingly volunteered her time to promoting Fellowship Baptist Church's summer vacation Bible school's Bible teachings to area children. Alma desired to share her love of God with those who otherwise would not learn of God's love.

Alma married Kenneth Coffey on Aug. 2, 1953, at First Baptist Church in Gideon, Missouri. This union culminated into 61 years of a loving and nurturing state that produced four children.

Alma, along with her husband, was a successful businessperson in Sikeston since 1970. She began her business career as an owner of Coffey's TV & Appliances, and from that business she hosted the popular radio talk show "Sugar and Spice with Alma Coffey." She owned and operated The Classic Dress Shop many years. Later, she expanded her business operations to include Coffey's Paint and Wallpaper, where she used her home-decorating eye and talents to beautify many homes in the surrounding towns.

After many rewarding years using her multiple talents, she and Kenneth opened Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream 31 Flavors for their four children to develop their own business skills. Then an opportunity came for her to open and manage a London Fog factory outlet store in Sikeston. Alma spent years traveling the United States and Puerto Rico establishing and opening London Fog stores until her retirement in 1993.

Kyle Sherman summed up Alma's greatest accomplishments best by saying, "Life is about creating loving memories and the people we touch along the way. By those standards, Alma could not have led a more successful, fulfilled life." She will always be in the hearts of many.

Alma is survived by her loving husband, Kenneth; two daughters, Cynthia Hewitt of Sikeston and Sheila Townsend of Jackson; a son, Jeffrey Coffey of Indianapolis; a son-in-law, Darell Townsend; 12 grandchildren, Joshua Hewitt, Aaron Hewitt, Sarah Hewitt, Jessica VanMeter, Emma Townsend, Olivia Townsend, Amber Coffey, Candice Coffey, Lauren Coffey, Brittany Coffey, Alexis Coffey, Christian Coffey and Justine Coffey; and 14 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Steven Coffey; a grandson, Keith VanMeter; two sisters, Margaret Lecroy and Glodine Bizzell; and a brother, Otto Bean Jr.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Rev. Joe McCullough, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston.