Mary Carolyn Cofer (Crabb)

Mary Carolyn Cofer, 90, of Blue Springs, MO died July 20, 2018 at the Benton House Memory Care of Blue Springs. A memorial visitation will be held from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 27, at Christ United Methodist Church in Independence. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, at Christ UMC. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Benton House/Groves Fund, 1701 NW Jefferson St., Blue Springs, MO 64015. She was born January 7, 1928 in Topeka, KS to Ray and Darline (Hutchin) Crabb. She graduated from Northeast High School in 1940. She then went to Park College and later to Baker University, where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She later completed her degree at Park College in 1975. On August 13, 1949, she married Robert William “Bill” Cofer. She and Bill lived in several places in the early years of their marriage, but returned to Independence, MO, where they raised their four children. Mary Carolyn was working for the Kansas City Public Library when she decided to return to school and get her Bachelor’s degree in Library Science from Park University. She served as head librarian at the Van Horn location, the Northeast High School library, The Fairmount library, and she had the honor of serving as Head Librarian at the Trails West Library from its opening date to her retirement in 1995. Mary Carolyn was a PEO for over 50 years, and loved her PEO friends from Chapter IK in Independence and Chapter HN in Kansas. She and Bill were active members at several churches as Bill served as Minister of Music during their 53 years of marriage: First United Methodist, First Christian Church and Christ United Methodist Church, all of Independence. She cherished the friends and love they received from each church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Darline Crabb; her husband of 53 years, R. William Cofer; brother, John Crabb; and grandson, Ryan Beckman. She is survived by her four children, Carolyn Kahler and husband Brent of Blue Springs, and their children Brent Kahler Jr. and wife Janie, Stephanie Howell and husband Keith Howell; Marcia Cofer of Independence, and her daughter, April Stone; Robert Cofer Jr. and wife Connie of Independence, and their children, Lori Lanier, Lynn Salinas and husband Auggie, Joel Beckman and Ryan Cofer; Maribeth Kammert and husband Jack Kammert Jr. of Independence, and their children, Ashley Kammert and Scott Kammert: sixteen great grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and her nephew and nieces. The staff and friends at Benton House Memory Care Center in Blue Springs has been a special extension of family to her over the last 18 months, and their care will always be remembered. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Groves Memory Care Center at Benton House of Blue Springs. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Carson-Speaks Chapel 816-252-7900)