Richard Neil Coffman died June 19, 2011 after a long battle with metastatic melanoma.
He was born in Fort Worth, Texas on September 25, 1946 to Harold Lee Coffman and Dorothy Lumpkin Coffman. He graduated from Everman High School and attended Tarrant County Junior College and Arlington State College. In 1966, he enlisted in the Army Signal Corps. He had a tour of duty in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 and was honorably discharged.
He was an artist and furniture craftsman owning the Country Mountain Workshoppe. He featured distressed primitive furniture, antique reproduction cabinets and punched panel pie safes. He sold hundreds of signed cabinets across the United States, Canada and Europe. His furniture was featured for several months in the national magazine Country Sampler. He was most well-known for his uniquely designed copper punched pie safes and his rustic red star breadboxes. He also sold furniture for several years at The Kalispell Farmer’s Market.
He is survived by his wife Joani, his son Neil Coffman, step-son Mark Hathaway and beloved son-in-law James Rhodes. He leaves daughters Katharine Coffman Flowers, Laura Hathaway Rhodes, and his sister Loretta Wheeler. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Philip, Bailey and Gracey. And last but not least, by his closest friends Tony, Don, Nora, Vicki and Johnny.
By his own wishes, he will be cremated with his ashes spread on his land overlooking Smith Valley. A private ceremony will be held with his family.
In lieu of flowers, Richard’s family asks that donations be made in his name to Home Options Hospice, 430 Windward Way, Kalispell, MT 59901. We know he would also like to give special thanks to Lori, Lon and Carol; and to all the nurses at Healhcenter Northwest that made his last days so comforting.