Mary Elizabeth Coffman, 54, of Danville died suddenly and unexpectedly Thursday, May 1, 2008, at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center (formerly Lakeview Hospital) where she was born Nov. 6, 1953, to Gene N. and Carolyn Miller Coffman.

She leaves behind her beloved husband of 27 years, James R. Mackey, and their 11-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Rose Coffman-Mackey of Danville; her mother, Carolyn Miller Coffman of Danville; sister, Martha Carolyn (Marti) Coffman of Danville; sister, Nora Coffman Peal (J.R.) of Urbana; a nephew, Logan Coffman Peal of Urbana; Uncle Hank S. (Sharon) Miller of Danville; a cousin, Sgt. Samuel H. Miller (Kellena) of Vicenza, Italy; mother-in-law, Mary Mackey of Salem, Mo.; brothers-in-law William (Susie) Mackey of Salem, Mo., and Joseph (Leeann) Mackey of U.P., Mich.; a sister-in-law, Mary Mackey-Bruce of Atlanta, Ga.; and many nieces and nephews and close and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Gene Nelson Coffman; her father-in-law John Ovid Mackey; two brothers-in-law, John and Jerry Mackey; and cousin Tami Joann Miller.

Mary — the former teenager, beloved spouse, phenomenal mother, wonderful friend and unparalleled teacher — has touched the hearts of many students, teachers, friends and family alike. She traveled the world; her interests were many and varied. Named the Faculty of the Year by her peers at DACC in 2007, she began her teaching career there at age 21.

She was a graduate of Immanuel Lutheran School (as Valedictorian and DAR Best Girl Citizen) and Danville High School (graduating a year early). Mary received her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Illinois in 1974 and her Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois in Springfield in 1975, pursuing further post-graduate work at Wooster College, Oxford University. She spent 31 years teaching at DACC, taking many student groups to Europe and around the world, advising for 20 years the college literary magazine Waiting for Rain staff and serving on numerous college and civic boards and committees.

She was a Fulbright scholar, traveling to China. She participated in the National Endowment for the Humanities Vision Quest grant. She was DACC’s representative to Illinois Colleges International Student Program, a member of the Community College Humanities Association, the Asian Studies Development Program, Cinema Chicago, the National Council of Teachers of English, and the DACC Alumni Association. She was a regular participant in the University of Illinois’ English Articulation Conference and the Chicago Film Festival. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, NOW, ACLU, a life member of the YWCA, a member of the Van Doren Writer’s group and former member of St. James United Methodist Church. She attended with her daughter Elizabeth the Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal, and Trinity Lutheran Chapel at Danville Lutheran School.

She was also well known in the Danville area for writing for the Commercial-News and broadcasting news on WDAN/WDNL. She had been a pioneering student in the Public Affairs Reporting Program at U.I.S. under former Sen. Paul Simon. In Springfield, before beginning at DACC she was a public relations director for the YWCA and wrote for the Illinois Times and the State Journal-Register.

Her greatest joy was the past 11 years spent with her beloved daughter, Elizabeth. Nothing gave her more joy than helping with Elizabeth’s school and extracurricular activities, being the “mom that drove,” hosting “girlfriend sleepovers,” laughing, sharing and traveling — a special trip just this last year with Elizabeth to London. She was highly respected, but love was her greatest legacy.

A tribute to the life of Mary Coffman will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 5, 2008, at the Sunset’s Community and Life Tribute Center (formerly Lakeside-Barrick Funeral Home), with Father Geoffrey Scanlon officiating. Visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Monday, May 5, 2008 at the Tribute Center.

Memorial donations may be made in Mary’s name to either the American Heart Association or Breast Cancer Research. Email condolences can be sent to Mary’s family at: www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.