April 25, 1943 – September 5, 2024
Marlow, OK
Verlon Jester “Sonny” Coffee, 81, passed away Thursday, September 5, 2024, in Marlow, OK.
Public visitation was on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral Home in Marlow, Oklahoma.
Funeral services were held at 10 AM, Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in Marlow, Oklahoma, officiated by Pastor Micah Welcher. Burial followed at the Marlow Cemetery. All arrangements were entrusted to Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral and Cremation Services of Marlow, OK.
Sonny was born Sunday, April 25, 1943, in Marlow, OK to Verlon Eugene and Dorian Oleta (Williamson) Coffee. After graduating from Rush Springs High School, he attended Central State University in Edmond, OK where he studied business.
After working in Oklahoma City and serving with the Army National Guard Reserve, Sonny relocated to Amarillo, TX, where he worked in medical equipment sales. He returned to Marlow in 1971 to expand Dorian’s Foods, which was founded by his parents in 1957. A food processing business based on the family’s 160-acre farm, Dorian’s Foods featured dozens of popular sauces, relishes, and canned vegetables, which were carried in grocery stores across Oklahoma and Texas. He also expanded his parents’ Midway Fruit Market to a second location on Highway 81 between Marlow and Duncan.
During these years, he served the First United Methodist Church as superintendent of Sunday school and as a member of the board of trustees. He was named Methodist Man of the Year in 1977. He was also a member of the Lion’s Club and served on the Marlow City Council.
After retiring from Dorian’s Foods, he enjoyed his lifelong hobby of fishing; flying model airplanes; playing pool; and cheering for his favorite team, the OU Sooners. He also continued to grow award-winning watermelons, most recently winning Grand Champion Watermelon in the 70th Annual Rush Springs Watermelon Festival. Most of all, Sonny enjoyed spending time with friends and traveling to visit his two daughters and four grandchildren in Tulsa, OK, and San Marino, CA.
Sonny was beloved by his family and friends, and he will be remembered for his kindness, his strong work ethic, and his wonderful sense of humor.
Survivors include his daughters, Lisa Coffee-Smith and Sean of Tulsa and Laura Coffee-Schuster and Craig Shreffler of Los Angeles, grandchildren, Alexandra Anne Schuster, Brendan Lindsey Smith, Jake Henry Schuster, and Spencer Williamson Smith, cousin, William Eugene Coffee, niece, Elizabeth Ann (Giles) Levulett and Alan, nephew, Stephen Galagher Giles, and great-nephew, Logan Levulett.
Sonny was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Joyce Ann (Coffee) Giles, and uncle, John C. Maddox.
Pallbearers were Brendan Smith, Spencer Smith, Sean Smith, Steve Coffee, Justin Coffee, and Craig Shreffler.
