Shirley May (Qualman) Coffin

Shirley May Coffin, age 93, passed away September 15, 2023, at Carlin House, a memory care facility in Logan, Ohio.  She was born November 16, 1929, in Cleveland to Raymond and Lola (Stucky) Qualman.

Shirley was a 1947 graduate of Collinwood High School in Cleveland.  She attended Lakeland Community College, Kent State University, and graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in social work, at the age of 50.  She began her interest in social work as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Painesville.  Shirley worked as a social worker for Lake East Hospital System and Breckenridge Village for over 18 years.  She was also a poll worker for the Lake County Board of Elections for many years. 

Shirley was a member of Mentor United Methodist Church and was an active member of many of the ministries in the church.  She was also a member of the Mentor Women’s Club and a member of Chi Omega Sorority, for 74 years.

Though a long time Lake County resident, her life with her husband Dwight provided the unique  opportunity for the family to live in Sydney, Australia for time. In her retirement years, Shirley traveled extensively in the United States and around the world including a few return trips to Australia as well as trips to Israel, England, Scotland, Norway, and many European countries.  She has passed on her love to travel to her daughters Sarah and Susan.

Shirley is survived by her son, Brian (Tammy) Coffin in Austin, TX, daughters, Susan (Michael) Fletcher in Athens, OH and Sarah Coffin in St. Louis, MO. Seven Grandchildren; Kennedy Coffin, Carter Coffin, Cory (Jes) Fletcher, Kevin Fletcher (Shannon Davis), Jeffrey Fletcher, Jason Fletcher, and Laura (Josh) Tollett; Four Great Grandchildren, Zeva Fletcher Sheets, Maggie Fletcher, Gaius Davis, and London Tollett; several nephews and a niece.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dwight Coffin in 1997; her parents, sister, Kay Howell; brother, Ronald Qualman, brother-in-law, Frank Howell; son-in-Law, Mark Barnett, her niece, Carol Mitchell and nephew, Raymond Howell.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 PM, Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Mentor United Methodist Church, 8600 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060. A reception with the family will follow the service. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Shirley to Alzheimer’s Association or the ministries of Mentor United Methodist Church.

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