Helene Lewis Coffer

PHOENIX – Helene Lewis Coffer, Arizona native, finished her earthly life May 21, 2018 in Phoenix. She was born Helene Martha Lewis on January 25, 1926 in Globe, Arizona to Alonzo (Lon) and Marguerite Lewis and later was nicknamed “Mickey.” As a young girl in Miami, she loved to run up steps from downtown to her hilltop home. A bright student (other than math, which she hated), Helene skipped two grades and was graduated from Miami High School at age 16. She interrupted University of Arizona studies when her father contracted tuberculosis; after his death, she worked two years as a secretary to support her widowed mother. Returning to UA, she met future husband Henry (Hank) Ford Coffer in a registration line. They married June 29, 1946. She financed school playing jazz piano at clubs and living/ working at Pima Hall cooperative. Offered a paid editor job at Arizona Daily Wildcat; she was crushed when the offer was reneged and given to a male student. Later, she got it back! A UA journalism graduate, Helene turned down an offer from the Miami Herald and moved to the Los Angeles area, where her secretary/ feature writer job at the Los Angeles Times helped finance Hanks’s chemistry PhD at the University of Southern California. After moving to Ponca City, Oklahoma, Hank became research director for Continental (Conoco) Oil Company and Helene a reporter and then feature editor for the Ponca City News. She produced a yearly Cherokee Strip edition on the area’s role in the Land Run of 1893 (where 100,000 people claimed land). She interviewed old pioneers, Ponca Indians, and cowboys from the 101 Ranch (known for Wild West shows featuring Bill Picket and Tom Mix). Working part time, she raised three daughters (all born in Ponca City), chaired the local American Association of University Women branch and sang in musicals and choir in the Presbyterian Church. In 1965, the Coffers moved to Las Vegas, NV where Hank led CER Geonuclear Corp. Helene turned to freelance writing and sold several short stories and poems to Good Housekeeping and Redbook magazines, and Turn My Beloved, a Christian romance book. She directed youth choir, played backup organ and sang in the choir at First Presbyterian Church; and played piano for Theater Arts Society Inc. productions. In 1999, Helene and Hank moved to Phoenix to be closer to family, where she played piano at Crosswinds Presbyterian Church, wrote poetry, and took long walks in the desert, until dementia and finally a fall and broken hip impacted her mobility. Helene is survived by three daughters, Cindy Chojnacky (David), Dr. Kathleen Coffer and Dr. Christine Raasch (David); a granddaughter, Michal Jean Chojnacky (Corentin); two nieces, Sharon and Lois Gilbert; two first cousins, Bill and Eric Hackenbracht, and many Coffer relatives. Her husband and older sister Muriel (Patsy) Gilbert preceded her in death. Helene was known for her quick wit, empathy, faith, night owl writing habits (starting up at midnight after the family went to bed), and her skills in ballroom dancing, bridge, piano accompanying, crossword puzzles and Scrabble. Interment was May 25 at National Memorial Cemetery. Celebration of Life service will be at 5 p.m. Friday, June 22 at Crosswinds Presbyterian Church, 20125 N 15th Ave. with the Rev. Michael Hartwell presiding, followed by a supper hosted by the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Crosswinds or Hospice of the Valley. Arrangements by Hansen Mortuary, (602) 944-1561.