LADONNA COFFMAN

Ladonna Coffman departed this earthly life on July 23, 2007, after a long battle with cancer. She was born June 2, 1934, in Clinton to Cora and John Hale. Ladonna was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Odie Hale of Clinton. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Edwin Coffman of Fort Smith; son, Phillip Coffman and his wife, Jane, and granddaughter, Kristin, all of Los Angeles; son, David Coffman and his wife, Beth, and grandchildren, Matt and Carol Ann, all of Tulsa; son, Dr. John Coffman and granddaughters Erin and Hannah, all of Fort Smith; sister, Zenobia Peacock and her husband, Clarence of Nashville, Tenn.; and brother, Sanford Hale and his wife, Judy of Tulsa; as well as many caring nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Ladonna was a retired nurse, a member of the Sparks Guild and the Nifty Fifties. She was a devoted wife and loving mother as well as a giving friend to so many. She loved visiting her hometown of Clinton, keeping in touch with friends on trips and fun excursions and taking care of her home. Ladonna also enjoyed tremendously the years she spent as den mother to her Boy Scout troop and over the years taught probably 50-plus kids to water ski on Lake Ouachita. Ladonna always thought of others before herself, was interested in everyone she met and will be missed by all who knew her for years or if they had just been introduced. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 26, 2007, at Goddard United Methodist Church with a private family committal at the U.S. National Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Mitch Jones, Bryan Whitaker, Bryan Mason, Kenny Irwin, Danny Johnson and Johnny Johnson. Honorary pallbearers will be Nifty Fifties, retired members of Medical Society, Jim Selig, Roger Robertson and Ben Lockerd. In lieu of flowers, memorials would be greatly appreciated by the following organizations: Peachtree Hospice, 4300 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901; Goddard Methodist Church, 1922 Dodson Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901; Sebastian County Humane Society, P.O. Box 10953, Fort Smith, AR 72917; or a charity of one’s choice. To place an online tribute, please visit http://www.edwardsfuneralhome.com/.