Sharon “Sherry” Mary Coffey – San Diego Union-Tribune

Sharon “Sherry” Mary Coffey

OBITUARY

Sharon “Sherry” Mary Coffey passed away peacefully with her family at her bedside on October 6, 2025. Sherry’s life will be remembered for her kindness to all and love for her family, friends, and community.

Sherry was the second child of Jack and Florence McKian. She was born on June 5, 1939 in Traverse City, Michigan and preceded in death by her brother, Peter McKian. She grew up on the family cherry farm, attended Traverse City High School, and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business from Central Michigan University at Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Upon graduation she ventured west to San Diego, California with a group of her sorority sisters. She was initially employed as an Executive Secretary at Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical and later transferred with her boss to General Dynamics where she was actively involved in the historical days of Apollo 11 and the Lunar Landing.

Sherry and her husband, Tom, met in South Mission Beach in the ’60s. After Tom’s completion of his active Naval service they wed in 1971 in Sherry’s hometown on the “Old Mission Penninsula in Traverse City, Michigan. The happy couple returned to San Diego to begin their “54 year Honeymoon”.

Sherry is survived by her husband, Tom; son Matthew and grandson Kingston; and daughter Aimee and granddaughter Elliot.

A celebration of a life will be held by her family in later months. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sherry’s memory to the Alztheimer’s Association are encouraged.