Jessie Lee Coffey-Given

Graveside services for Mrs. Jessie Lee Coffey Given, 98, will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, September 4, 2009 at Highland Cemetery, Junction City, KS with Father Cox officiating. Mrs. Given passed away at her home in Foley, AL on August 31, 2009.

Mrs. Given was born August 13, 1911 Junction City, KS. She earned her education in Junction City, KS and at the Dague Business University in Wichita, KS.

She was a secretary at the Kansas State Highway Department for 2 years. Before World War II, Jessie helped her father get his road construction business started by cooking at his construction camp. During World War II, Miss Jessie was Operations and Personnel Manager for the Army PX Exchange in Fort Riley, KS; Chicago, Il and Camp Chaffee, AR. She was also Operations and Personnel Manager for the Command School at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Following World War II, Mrs. Given managed and supervised three Ladies Ready-to-Wear Stores for a chain in Kansas City, KS; Topeka, KS and Wichita, KS. Later she had a store in Phoenix, AZ and Los Angeles, CA.

In 1963, Mrs. Given and her late husband, Retired Colonel (West Point) William J. Given moved to Foley, AL in Baldwin County. Mrs. Given 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. Mrs. Given was quoted as saying that "95% of her business was return, referral".

Mrs. Given was a large benefactor to St. John's Military School in Salina, Kansas. 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 in Salina. She helped with furnishing and renovation to Mize Hall and the Stevens Center.

Mrs. Given has also been a benefactor to Marion Military Institute in Marion, AL where her husband and great grandson were both graduates. She helped pay tuition for students who were unable to pay and helped with improvements on campus.

Jessie was preceded in death by her parents, James W. Coffey, a well known road contractor in Kansas and her mother, Kathleen Mae Switzer Coffey of Junction City, KS; Sister, Gladys Coffey Skaggs of Dodge City, KS; Brother, James Edward Coffey, Junction City, KS; Son, Donald J. Thompson of Atlanta, GA; Husband, COL William J. Given, USA, Retired, of Foley, AL.

She is survived by her Granddaughter, Cynthia Lee Thompson McCallister and husband Larry of Overland Park, KS; Great Grandson, Daniel P. Moran and wife Ashley of Vestavia Hills, AL; Nephew, J. Milton Skaggs and Niece, Dr. Sharron Skaggs McReynolds both of Dodge City, KS.

Pallbearers will be cadets from St. John's Military School in Salina, KS.

Honorary Pallbearers are 1SG Amon Tidmore, USA, Retired and US Army JROTC Instructor at St. John's Military School; CAPT E.A. "Skip" McAlexander, USN, Retired and past President of St. John's Military School and CSM Jerry Bradley, USA, Retired, and past Commandant of St. John's Military School in Salina, KS.

Remembrances can be made to the Chapel at St. John's Military School, P.O. Box 5020, Salina, Kansas 67402.

Mack Funeral home and Crematory in Robertsdale, AL and Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel in Junction City, KS are assisting the family with arrangements.