1929 – 2016

VENICE, Fla. — Gerald “Jerry” Coffin died April 7, 2014 at Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota, Fla. and Rosemarie “Rose” (Stevens) Coffin died Saturday, May 7 in Venice, Fla.

Gerald was born in Auburn on Nov. 19, 1927 to Carlton C. Coffin and Nora Aileen Burden of Auburn. Jerry was the owner and operator of State Camera Supply Company, providing technical services to the Maine harness racing industry. He worked primarily as a photo finish photographer, but also designed and built specialized photo finish cameras, race timing equipment and odds display boards. With Ernie Cobb, his best friend and business partner, he was involved in many other related activities.

Rosemarie was born in Auburn on July 18, 1929 to Roy S. Stevens and Florence Burns of Auburn. As a young women, Rose worked in the food concession stands at the fairs and later as an operator for the phone company. Once her children came along, she was a devoted mother who always found the time and energy to help others. She was a member of the YWCA and very active in fundraising for the swimming pool build in Lewiston. After her children were grown, she worked at Porteous in the Auburn Mall until retiring.

Jerry and Rose met while she was working at Seavey’s in Auburn. Rose was only 14, but it was love at first sight and a love that never died. They were married June 8, 1946 in Lewiston. After raising a family of four daughters and helping numerous other kids over the bumps of life, Jerry and Rose retired to Florida. They returned to Maine each summer to Range Pond Campground in Poland until health prevented traveling.

Jerry and Rose are survived by many descendants including two daughters, Nancy Lecompte of Lewiston and Belgrade and Nolene “Binky” Coffin of Minot; seven grandchildren and their offspring, Jen VanValkenburg and her two children of Monmouth, Julie Kautz and her son of Hubbard Lake, Mich., Jackie Parent and her two children of Lewiston, Shanan Mendenhall and her son of Auburn, Stacy Yarnelli and her daughter of Livermore, Deanna Doyon and her three children of Minot, and Alison Jordan of Poland; a very special son-in-law, Ray Bement; several foreign exchange students; and numerous other young people they took under their wing at one time or another. Rosie is survived by two brothers, George Stevens of Auburn and Eugene Stevens of Lewiston.

Rosie was predeceased by seven of her siblings, Calvert Stevens of Portland, Catherine (Sister Mary Frances), Roy Stevens of Auburn and Venice, Fla., Ada Jordan of Auburn, Bradford Stevens of Auburn, Libby Sylvester of Auburn and Bingham, and Elinor Russell of Auburn.

Jerry and Rose were predeceased by two daughters, Bonnie Bement of Auburn and Alpena, Mich. and Wendy Mendenhall of Auburn and Sarasota, Fla. They were so full of life and their lives were cut so short. The pain of the loss was great, but now they are all together again and at peace.