Coffield

March Coffield, 78, a Jasper attorney, died Saturday, February 4, 2012 surrounded by his loving family.

March Coffield

He was born October 29, 1934 in El Paso and was raised in Far West Texas. Marfa was his original hometown and always remained close to his heart.  Jasper was his adopted home for more than 43 years. His uncle, Henry Coffield was a Marfa mayor.

March accomplished many things in life.  He was a charitable man who gave back to his community fully and willingly, with a spirit of fun.

He served in the United States Army as a first lieutenant in Germany during the Cold War.  He was a long-time member of the Jasper City Council and served as the Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Jasper.  He was a past president of the Texas Municipal League, past president of the Jasper Chamber of Commerce, and was selected as Citizen of the Year by the Jasper Chamber.

He was a member of the Jasper Lions Club’s “Good Guys and Bad Guys” who promoted the Jasper Rodeo throughout East Texas for many years by staging mock gunfights (March was the sheriff). He designed the familiar “J” cowboy boot in the Rodeo logo.  He loved his undergraduate alma mater, Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, where he was a cheerleader in the 1950s.  He celebrated TCU’s wins and deeply felt their losses.  March was a supremely talented saxophonist and loved playing gigs at various venues in Jasper, Lufkin and Beaumont.  He especially enjoyed playing at his church where he was also a Sunday school teacher for decades and offered his wise counsel on many church committees.  He doted on his grandchildren and in 2010 authored and illustrated a Christmas book (The Very Special Christmas of Henry and Paul) dedicated to them.

March loved life.  He will continue to be an inspiration to those who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jeanette Havard Coffield; his sons Mac and his wife Ashley Coffield, and Jason and his wife Rene; also four grandchildren, Henry, Paul, Julian and Delanie.

Visitation was the afternoon of Monday, February 6 at Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home in Jasper.  A Celebration of March’s life was the afternoon of Tuesday, February 7 at First United Methodist Church Jasper with entombment in Evergreen Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers are the Hon. Judge Joe Bob Golden, Dr. James R. Perkins, Dr. Jerry Craven, Mr. William Seale and Dr. Richard Riggins.

March’s family gives thanks for the members of the Seekers and the Joy Sunday School classes, the Men’s Prayer Breakfast Group and for the loving and compassionate care of Lakes Area Hospice.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in March’s memory either to Lakes Area Hospice, 254 Ethel Street, Jasper, Texas 75951 or to Jasper First United Methodist Church, 329 Bowie Street, Jasper, Texas 75951.