Helms Family Genealogy Pages

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Eleanore Irene Smith

Eleanore Irene Smith

Female 1918 - 2013  (95 years)


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  • Name Eleanore Irene Smith 
    Birth 17 May 1918  IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Census 9 Jan 1920  Cedar Township, Mahaska County, IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    1920 Federal Census, Iowa, Mahaska County, Cedar Township, Supervisor's District No. 95, Enumeration District No. 67, Sheet 9A.    		 1920 Federal Census, Iowa, Mahaska County, Cedar Township, Supervisor's District No. 95, Enumeration District No. 67, Sheet 9A.
    1920 Federal Census, Iowa, Mahaska County, Cedar Township, Supervisor's District No. 95, Enumeration District No. 67, Sheet 9A.
    Census 19 Apr 1930  Cedar Township, Mahaska County, IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    1930 Federal Census, Iowa, Mahaska County, Cedar Township, Enumeration District 62-5, Sheet 8A.    		 1930 Federal Census, Iowa, Mahaska County, Cedar Township, Enumeration District 62-5, Sheet 8A.
    1930 Federal Census, Iowa, Mahaska County, Cedar Township, Enumeration District 62-5, Sheet 8A.
    Death 10 Nov 2013  IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Eleanore Smith Coffey died Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, after a long illness. She was born May 17, 1918 to Cecil and Pearle Smith, who owned a farm near Freemont, IA. She graduated from Freemont High School in 1936 and entered nurses' training the following fall. After an automobile accident that kept her bed-ridden for eight months, she enrolled at Iowa State University and graduated in 1942. While serving as a dietician at the Naval Preflight School at Iowa City, she met Dr. James Coffey. They were married June 18, 1944.

      In 1955, Eleanore, her husband, and three children moved to Emmetsburg. Over the next 50 years, she was very active in community and civic affairs, donating her services as a dietician to the Palo Alto County Hospital and serving on the City Parks Board, the Emmetsburg Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Emmetsburg Community Development Council. She helped organize Meals on Wheels and was a devoted member of Trinity Episcopal Church and served on its Bishops' Committee and Altar Guild. Eleanore was also active in A.A.U.W and Friday Club. She was a lifelong member of Alpha Delta Phi sorority.

      In 1956, Eleanore became active in Democratic Party politics. She played a prominent role in re-vitalizing the Democratic Party organization in Palo Alto County and was a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention, where John F. Kennedy was nominated to run for the presidency. From 1964-70, she served on the Iowa State Democratic Central Committee.

      Beyond these many civic engagements, Eleanore was first and foremost a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. She was a loving companion and partner in Dr. Coffey's many civic projects. She created a loving atmosphere in the home and entered into the lives of her children and grandchildren. She served as a babysitter for grand children in Moscow and as a surrogate parent for a grand daughter at boarding school. She opened her home to five foreign exchange students and many other guests. She was an avid bird-watcher, ecologist, and Bridge player. At a time when other faculties were in decline, she managed to make a grand-slam in Bridge.

      Eleanore was preceded in death by Dr. James Coffey (2007), her daughter Margaret (2013) and her two sisters, Pauline and Margaret. She is survived by her two sons, Steven (Nancy) of Sterling, VA, and John (Janet) of Faribault, MN; her brother, Dr. Sydney Smith of Oskaloosa; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
    Burial 15 Nov 2013  Evergreen Cemetery, Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Headstone of James Coffey and Eleanore Smith.    		 Headstone of James Coffey and Eleanore Smith.
    Headstone of James Coffey and Eleanore Smith.
    Person ID I1058  Helms Family
    Last Modified 5 Dec 2024 

    Father Cecil Smith,   b. 1 Mar 1892, Leighton, Mahaska County, IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Dec 1979, Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years) 
    Mother Etta Pearle Cochran,   b. 7 Nov 1892, IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Nov 1984 (Age 92 years) 
    Marriage 1917 
    Family ID F374  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Dr. James Leo Coffey, MD,   b. 5 Jul 1919, Wellman, Washington County, IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Jun 2007, Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years) 
    Marriage 18 Jun 1944  Iowa City, Johnson County, IA, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. S.J. Coffey
     2. Margaret Irene Coffey,   b. 21 Jun 1950   d. 24 Jan 2013, Camden County, MO, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 62 years)
     3. J.C. Coffey
    Family ID F362  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Jun 2013 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 17 May 1918 - IA, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 9 Jan 1920 - Cedar Township, Mahaska County, IA, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 19 Apr 1930 - Cedar Township, Mahaska County, IA, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 18 Jun 1944 - Iowa City, Johnson County, IA, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 10 Nov 2013 - IA, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 15 Nov 2013 - Evergreen Cemetery, Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, IA, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
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