Gladys Coffel

Gladys Irene (Francy) Coffel, 86 of Independence, MO, passed away, Thursday, July 1, 2010 at Carmel Hills Living Center. Services will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at the Speaks Suburban Chapel. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Pleasant Hill, MO. The family will greet friends from 6 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday evening at the chapel. Donations may be made in her name to Alzheimer’s Research. Gladys was born January 2nd, 1924, in Webber, Kansas to Jones S. and Alice A. (Beck) Francy. At the age of 2, her family moved to the Lamar, Missouri area and later moved to Pleasant Hill, Missouri where she graduated from high school. After graduation she came to Kansas City supporting the war effort during WWII by working at North American Aviation building the B25 Bombers. Gladys married John William Coffel on April 12th, 1947 at Bales Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO. In 1957 John and Gladys joined Maywood Baptist Church in Independence, MO, where Gladys taught Sunday School, worked in Children’s Choir, sang in the church choir and various other capacities. She worked at Emery Bird Thayer as a hairdresser, secretary at the YMCA and retired from the State License Bureau in Independence. She is survived by her husband John of the home, son John S. Coffel and wife Pam of St. Peter’s, Missouri, daughters Scheryl Colvin and husband Jim of Independence, MO, and daughter Janet Gruning and husband Alan of Ft. Myers, Florida, brothers Delbert Francy of Garden City, Missouri, Clifford Francy (June) of Centerview, Missouri, Fred Francy (Joyce) of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Donald Francy of Harrisonville, MO, and sister Doris Oldham of Blue Springs, Missouri, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Robert, Everett, and Dale; sisters, Winifred Baldwin, Elsie May Ford and Hazel Renfrow and daughter Sharon Lynn.