Lillian Coffee

Waynesville, Lillian Coffee, 102, passed away on Thursday, January 5, 2023.

Lillian was born November 14, 1920, in Elyria, Ohio to Carl and Esther Notley.  She shared the family home with three younger brothers, William, Thomas and David, all of whom predeceased her.

Lillian was a long time resident of Long Beach and Michigan City, Indiana, where she was a member of the Methodist Church and a golden girl in PEO.  She was also a member of DAR.  Lillian lived these last many years with her oldest son, Leo, and his wife, Barbara, in Waynesville.

She married the love of her life, Leo, in 1942.  They had four boys, Leo (Barbara), Dick (Toni), Carl (Luanne) and Jim (Lori).  Each of them love their Mother very much and will miss her immensely.  So will everyone who knew her.

Life goes on it is said, and it certainly did for Lillian for more than 102 years.  But the mark she made on the world through her children, and their children will last forever.  Eleven grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren all carry the imprint and the love and affection of their "white haired" grandma.  Whether it was cookies baked, songs sung while washing dishes, stories read on the living room couch, letters written, or gin rummy card game taught and played with her great grandchildren, it’s all there still.

If there’s one thing to know about Lillian Coffee, it is that she knew how to love, and she inspired it all in these people she leaves behind.

Lillian was a lover of God and a believer in Heaven and now happy to reunite with her husband, Leo.  She’s been looking forward to that and we’re sure that he is too.  It’s been too long a wait.

In Waynesville, Lillian was a member of First United Methodist Church of Waynesville and remained a PEO in Michigan City, Indiana.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville.

Memorials can be sent to Clothes to Kids, Clothes2Kids of Haywood County, PO Box 914, Clyde, NC 28721; Pathways, 179 Hemlock Street, Waynesville, NC 28786, or First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, 566 S. Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

The care of Mrs. Coffee has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.