Elliott COFFMAN
Last Wednesday night in Grants Pass, Oregon occurred the death of Elliott Coffman, a former well known resident of Pine Creek Township. Mr. Coffman has been in failing health the past winter and confined to his bed the past two months …aged about 64 years.

The remains, accompanied by his …and son left Grants Pass last …sday evening and were expected to arrive in Mt. Morris Monday evening. Interment was in Mt. Morris Cemetery. Among those here to at… the funeral were his two sisters, …George Gelwix of Thayer, Kansas and Mrs. Bennett Kline of Man… Iowa, also Mrs. Wilbur Clute, daughter of Independence, Kas.

Ogle County Reporter (Oregon, Illinois) 16 May 1914:

The body of Elliot Coffman arrived Tuesday noon April 28 from Grant's Pass, Oregon. His death occurred after an illness of long duration. Mr. Coffman was a brother of Charles Coffman living south of Mt. Morris and also of Mrs. John Davis. The funeral was held at the M. E. Church Wednesday after which interment was made in the old cemetery.

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Daily Register Gazette (Rockford, Illinois) 1 May 1914:
The remains of Elliott Coffman, who died at Grant’s Pass, Ore., arrived in Mt. Morris Tuesday noon, and were conveyed to the home of his sister, Mrs. Wm. Davis. The funeral was held this morning at the M. E. Church. Charles Coffman is a brother.

Mount Morris Index (Mount Morris, Illinois) 14 May 1914:
GEO. E. COFFMAN HAS PASSED AWAY
HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM FOR HIS HIGH CHARACTER
GENEROUS, KIND, HOSPITABLE
Peculiarly Tender and Affectionate in His Home Life, He was a Man to be Sadly Missed
George Elliot Coffman passed from this life at his home in Grants Pass, Oregon, on April 21, 1914, aged sixty four years, four days. His early years were spent upon the home farm near Mount Morris with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Coffman who were among the pioneers of Ogle County.

On January 16, 1879, took place a marriage to Miss Lillie B. Knodle of Mount Morris. To their home six children were born, all of whom are living, as follows. Mrs. Elmer Shank of Portland, Oregon; Earl of Independence, Kansas; Mrs. Wilbur Clute of Independence, Kansas; Jennie of Portland, Oregon, and Samuel at home. The following brothers and sisters also survive: Mrs. Wm. Davis of Mount Morris; Mrs. Bennett Kline of Manson, Iowa; Charles V. of Mount Morris; Mrs. Geo. W. Gelwix and Dr. Gilbert L. both of Thayer, Kansas.

In 1888 Mr. Coffman with his family located in Thayer, Kansas, where he successfully conducted a furniture and undertaking business. Later he removed to Grants Pass, Oregon and secured a homestead near that city, occupying it until the time of his death.

Mr. Coffman was an officer in the A.O.U.W. Fraternity, an untiring worker, ever rendering will service. He was so well known that it seems useless to recount the many deeds of kindness, the hearty hospitality which he freely extended and the peculiarly tender affectionate regard which marked his home life.

Unto him came the slow approach of the grim destroyer, death, and for many long weeks his devoted wife and faithful sons and daughters watched the shadows gather in their home. Looking out into the springtime, filled with the music of bird-songs and sweet with the breath of blossoms, with longing, lingering grasp he bravely clung to life, planning always for the comfort of the dear ones, to whom he must say farewell.

They pass beyond our vision—the little ones with smile frozen upon the baby lips, sturdy childhood, ardent youth, those of mellowed years, and ripened age—and in the sorrow of their passing we forget to see that the skies are blue and clear, that the sweet south wind heard the coming of springtime, that the flowers crowd along our pathway, lifting fragrant faces skyward and that over all—is the marvel and the miracle of a newly- created earth. Out from the mist of “Somewhere” there shall some time come to us a vision of the sunlight that touches the hills of Paradise.

Contributed by Jane Edson

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