Jean "Kay" Ashenfelter Coffman

Jean "Kay" Ashenfelter Coffman, 86, of Timberville, Virginia, passed away on March 11, 2026, at Sentara RMH Medical Center following an extended hospital stay.

Born on July 26, 1939, in Cherry Grove, Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Homer Benjamin David and Mary Cleo (Ritchie) Ashenfelter. A graduate of Broadway High School with the class of 1957, Kay served as Deputy Commissioner of the Revenue for Rockingham County for ten years. She stepped away from that role for a time to raise her two daughters and worked in the family business, Coffman Printing and Photography. She later returned to public service as Chief Deputy Commissioner of the Revenue for the City of Harrisonburg for twenty years. A longtime member of the Timberville Church of the Brethren, she found quiet fulfillment in volunteering at the Timberville Museum.

Kay is survived by her husband of sixty years, John Miller Coffman, whom she married on September 11, 1965; her daughters, Michele Minnick and husband Richard of Harrisonburg, and Joni Biller and husband Tony of Timberville; granddaughters Kayla Biller of Broadway and Alexis Minnick of Harrisonburg; grandson Jaden Minnick of Harrisonburg; and three great-grandchildren, Carson Biller, Charlotte Stout, and Lucy Stout, all of Broadway. She is also survived by her identical twin sister, Joan "Fay" (Ashenfelter) Branner of Timberville, nieces Rebecca "Becky" (Ashenfelter) Augustine and husband Melvin of Salina, Kansas, and Beth Branner Gore and husband Wil of Charlottesville, as well as numerous great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Russel Lee Ashenfelter, who died on November 22, 1969; her sister-in-law, Martha "Marty" Ann (Kubitschek) Ashenfelter of Salina, Kansas; and her brother-in-law, Bobby Schuler Branner of Timberville.

Kay found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She loved flowers and birds, rarely missed an episode of Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune, and completed the daily crossword puzzle without fail. She and John enjoyed traveling across the country, including a memorable drive to Alaska and the Arctic Circle. In her later years, she spent many happy hours on her iPad playing games, but nothing brought her more contentment than time spent with her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.