6/30/1925 – 8/11/2025
Lawrence
Pauline “Polly” Coffey, 100, of Lawrence, Kansas, died peacefully on August 11, 2025, at her home with family present.
She was born at home on June 30, 1925, on her family’s farm in Tangier, Oklahoma (Woodward County), to Henry Schmidt and Minnie (Hasemeier). Polly was one of seven children and part of two sets of twins. She and her identical twin sister, Irene, shared a lifelong bond as best friends. Their closeness shaped Polly’s life, and her love for Irene remained deep even after Irene’s passing in 1988.
Polly showed academic promise from an early age, graduating from Tangier High School in 1943 in a class of only four students, where she served as class president and Irene as class secretary. She continued her education at Northwestern State College in Alva, Oklahoma, where she joined Sigma Kappa Sorority.
During World War II, Polly and Irene traveled together to Washington, D.C., where they worked for the Navy’s Bureau of Ships in the War Department.
In 1945, Polly married Elmo “Buzz” Coffey in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Together they built a life in Wichita, Kansas, raising three sons. Once her boys were older, she joined McBride & Dehmer Construction as a Business Manager, where she handled everything from job estimates to payroll and OSHA reporting. Her talents and leadership earned her recognition as Woman of the Year in Construction.
Polly was a devoted volunteer, giving her time to Woodland United Methodist Church, Wichita Public Schools as a student mentor, Old Cowtown Museum, and the Wichita Botanical Gardens. She was a gifted quilter, winning awards for her work, and she enjoyed reading, bridge, nature, church, politics, and developed a love of sports, which she learned from her sons. She also loved to travel, with trips to Hawaii, Colorado, Maine (where she walked part of the Appalachian Trail), London, Quebec, and Jamaica.
In retirement, Polly and Buzz enjoyed traveling in their 5th wheel to Texas during the summers, where they met friends and created many fond memories together. They shared a loving bond until Buzz’s passing in 2009.
Above all, Polly was devoted to her family. She brought everyone together for home-cooked meals, holidays, and birthdays, continuing this tradition well into her nineties, connecting generations with her warmth, wisdom, and unwavering love.
She is survived by her three sons and daughters-in-law, Tom Coffey (Linda), Ted Coffey (Vickie), and Todd Coffey (Barb); five grandchildren, Alison, Jessica, Sam, Alex, and Keenan; four great-grandchildren, Beckham, Elora, Levon, and Lola; as well as nieces and nephews from her beloved sisters and brothers Irene, “Toots,” Pearl, Earl, Bill, and Elmer.
Her family will gather in Wichita at a later date (to be determined) in September to celebrate her remarkable life. Updates and more details will be posted on rumsey-yost.com.
Polly once wrote:
“I learned one thing from the death of my Twin and siblings. We are terminal. Our time is finite and to spend most of it feeling bad is more than a waste. An excess of mourning dishonors the nature of life itself and the person you’re missing. Be happy. It’s your choice.”
— Pauline Coffey
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