Clara M. Coffey

Former Riverhead resident Clara M. Coffey of East Patchogue died May 9 of ovarian cancer at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. She was 85.

She was born Aug. 31, 1929, in Bath, N.C., to Bertha (Bonner) and Adolphus Smith. She graduated from G.R. Whitfield High School in Grimesland, N.C., in 1947, where she was a member of the girls’ basketball team.

Ms. Coffey worked as a supervisor at Fairchild in Bellport.

Ms. Coffey was predeceased by her husband, Freddie; her son Freddie Coffey Jr.; her sisters, Hazel Howard, Pearl Garrison and Lucy Hawkins and her brother Tilton Smith. She is survived by her brothers Elmine Smith of Greenville, N.C., and Lenzor Smith; her sons Victor, of Greensboro, N.C., Mitchell, of East Patchogue and Kenneth, of Gibsonville, N.C.; her daughters, Frances Jeffers of Bridgehampton, Marilyn Darden of Jacksonville, Fla., Sharon, of Riverhead, Pamela, of West Babylon and Tammy, of Riverhead; 21 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors Saturday, May 16, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Riverhead, where the Rev. Charles Coverdale will conduct a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Interment will take place Monday, May 18, at 11 a.m. at Calverton National Cemetery.

Arrangements are in the care of Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead.