Gary ‘Mike’ Coffey of La Coste, passed away on September 5, 2022 at the age of 78. He was born February 29, 1944 in San Antonio, Texas to William Russell Coffey and Mildred Teinert Coffey.
In 1962, Mike graduated from John Marshall High School in San Antonio. He served in the United States Coast Guard for two years and then attended San Antonio College, Southwest Texas State College, and Trinity University. He always said he was following the girls! He then went to the University of Texas in Austin where he received his BBA in Accounting in 1976. He was an accountant for many years. Mike received a BS in Secondary Mathematics Education from University of Texas at San Antonio in 1998 and then began his teaching career. He taught math at Poteet Middle School, Somerset High School, and Medina Valley Middle School.
Mike was a San Antonio Alzafar Shriner Clown and would visit children who were in the hospital at Christmas time to bring them gifts. He greeted all the children at the Alzafar Shrine Circus every year. He also participated in local parades with the clowns and would visit with every child on the parade route.
He loved talking to new people. He never met a stranger.
On March 2, 1996, Mike married Claire Louise Christilles at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in La Coste. They were blessed with twenty-six years of marriage.
Survivors include his wife, Claire Coffey of La Coste; children and their spouses, Kelly and Tom Gehrmann of Black Forest, Colorado, Cable and Brittney Coffey of Arvada, Colorado, and Abby and Eric Schwarte of Austin; grandchildren, Katy Gehrmann, Jilly Gehrmann, Darby Coffey, Ridley Coffey, Charlotte Schwarte, Eli Schwarte, and Lucas Schwarte; siblings, Ruth Coffey of San Antonio and Scotty Coffey Muenchow of Austin; mother-in-law, Shirley Christilles; in-laws, Dian Pfeil (Thom), Randall Christilles (Laura), Jon Christilles (Lori), George Christilles (Rachel), and Melissa Ames (Dale); and many nieces and nephews.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Patricia Coffey Bones; and his father-in-law, James Daniel ‘Jim’ Christilles.
A Masonic Memorial Service will be held during his Celebration of Life from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at Beethoven Hall, 422 Pereida Street, San Antonio, Texas 78210. A Graveside Service with military honors will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 17, 2022 at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, Shelter #3, in San Antonio, Texas.
Memorials may be made in Mike’s memory to Shriners’ Hospitals for Crippled Children or Orthopedic (https://lovetotherescue.org) or the charity of your choice.