Maudie was born on December 1, 1925, in Amarillo, Texas. She was the youngest of four (4) Coffey girls born to Josephine & Reuben Francis Coffey. Her family moved to Portales New Mexico when Maudie was about seven (7) years old. Her father, Reuben Francis worked for the railroad as a watchman and later as a farmer. Maudie is survived by two children, a daughter, Sherri, and a son Robert Dale "Jason", two grandchildren Kenneth Shawn Ledford and Aaron Cody Gillespie, and four great-grandchildren Kendal, Cole, Nickie, and Lauren.
Maudie was the youngest and smallest of her three sisters Evelyn, Helen, and Gladys. Her Dad, Reuben Francis died during the depression (1936) when Maudie was only 11 years old. Maudie, her Mother, and two of her sisters (still at home) suffered tough times during the depression that only got worse after her Dad died. She told me several stories of not having anything to eat and huddling with her Mother and sisters to stay warm. Maudie talked affectionately of her Mother recalling how they didn't have money to buy her anything for her birthday. Then her mother found a bite-size piece of peppermint candy in a canister on her 11th birthday just after her Dad died. Maudie told how thrilled she was to get that bite-size piece of peppermint candy. Maudie and her sisters always spoke of their Mother Josie with deep respect, admiration, and love. They all said, "Little Mama worked her entire life from sunup to sundown."
Maudie was a talented clothes designer and seamstress. She could size you up literally in a few minutes and by the time you visited again, she would surprise you with something she designed and made just for you. Maudie could talk and socialize comfortably with anyone, "Kings or Paupers". She always dressed to the tens, was a Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star in Hawaii, loved to travel, dance, and most of all she loved to shop.
She went to school with Dale Clifton Gillespie. Maudie married him in 1943 just after she turned seventeen and just before he shipped out to the Pacific during WWII. She said, "We were just kids and never thought the war would end." They were married 25 years and had two children Sherri and Bob.
Maudie married Bill Armstrong (her second husband) for 25 years until his death in 1996.
Caveat: ©Maudie Armstrong (copyright protected) biography and all her photos and/or her family. They may not be reproduced, duplicated, copied, or sold without the signed authorization of owner Sherri Gillespie.
Maudie was the youngest and smallest of her three sisters Evelyn, Helen, and Gladys. Her Dad, Reuben Francis died during the depression (1936) when Maudie was only 11 years old. Maudie, her Mother, and two of her sisters (still at home) suffered tough times during the depression that only got worse after her Dad died. She told me several stories of not having anything to eat and huddling with her Mother and sisters to stay warm. Maudie talked affectionately of her Mother recalling how they didn't have money to buy her anything for her birthday. Then her mother found a bite-size piece of peppermint candy in a canister on her 11th birthday just after her Dad died. Maudie told how thrilled she was to get that bite-size piece of peppermint candy. Maudie and her sisters always spoke of their Mother Josie with deep respect, admiration, and love. They all said, "Little Mama worked her entire life from sunup to sundown."
Maudie was a talented clothes designer and seamstress. She could size you up literally in a few minutes and by the time you visited again, she would surprise you with something she designed and made just for you. Maudie could talk and socialize comfortably with anyone, "Kings or Paupers". She always dressed to the tens, was a Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star in Hawaii, loved to travel, dance, and most of all she loved to shop.
She went to school with Dale Clifton Gillespie. Maudie married him in 1943 just after she turned seventeen and just before he shipped out to the Pacific during WWII. She said, "We were just kids and never thought the war would end." They were married 25 years and had two children Sherri and Bob.
Maudie married Bill Armstrong (her second husband) for 25 years until his death in 1996.
Caveat: ©Maudie Armstrong (copyright protected) biography and all her photos and/or her family. They may not be reproduced, duplicated, copied, or sold without the signed authorization of owner Sherri Gillespie.
Maudie was born on December 1, 1925, in Amarillo, Texas. She was the youngest of four (4) Coffey girls born to Josephine & Reuben Francis Coffey. Her family moved to Portales New Mexico when Maudie was about seven (7) years old. Her father, Reuben Francis worked for the railroad as a watchman and later as a farmer. Maudie is survived by two children, a daughter, Sherri, and a son Robert Dale "Jason", two grandchildren Kenneth Shawn Ledford and Aaron Cody Gillespie, and four great-grandchildren Kendal, Cole, Nickie, and Lauren.
Maudie was the youngest and smallest of her three sisters Evelyn, Helen, and Gladys. Her Dad, Reuben Francis died during the depression (1936) when Maudie was only 11 years old. Maudie, her Mother, and two of her sisters (still at home) suffered tough times during the depression that only got worse after her Dad died. She told me several stories of not having anything to eat and huddling with her Mother and sisters to stay warm. Maudie talked affectionately of her Mother recalling how they didn't have money to buy her anything for her birthday. Then her mother found a bite-size piece of peppermint candy in a canister on her 11th birthday just after her Dad died. Maudie told how thrilled she was to get that bite-size piece of peppermint candy. Maudie and her sisters always spoke of their Mother Josie with deep respect, admiration, and love. They all said, "Little Mama worked her entire life from sunup to sundown."
Maudie was a talented clothes designer and seamstress. She could size you up literally in a few minutes and by the time you visited again, she would surprise you with something she designed and made just for you. Maudie could talk and socialize comfortably with anyone, "Kings or Paupers". She always dressed to the tens, was a Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star in Hawaii, loved to travel, dance, and most of all she loved to shop.
She went to school with Dale Clifton Gillespie. Maudie married him in 1943 just after she turned seventeen and just before he shipped out to the Pacific during WWII. She said, "We were just kids and never thought the war would end." They were married 25 years and had two children Sherri and Bob.
Maudie married Bill Armstrong (her second husband) for 25 years until his death in 1996.
Caveat: ©Maudie Armstrong (copyright protected) biography and all her photos and/or her family. They may not be reproduced, duplicated, copied, or sold without the signed authorization of owner Sherri Gillespie.
Maudie was the youngest and smallest of her three sisters Evelyn, Helen, and Gladys. Her Dad, Reuben Francis died during the depression (1936) when Maudie was only 11 years old. Maudie, her Mother, and two of her sisters (still at home) suffered tough times during the depression that only got worse after her Dad died. She told me several stories of not having anything to eat and huddling with her Mother and sisters to stay warm. Maudie talked affectionately of her Mother recalling how they didn't have money to buy her anything for her birthday. Then her mother found a bite-size piece of peppermint candy in a canister on her 11th birthday just after her Dad died. Maudie told how thrilled she was to get that bite-size piece of peppermint candy. Maudie and her sisters always spoke of their Mother Josie with deep respect, admiration, and love. They all said, "Little Mama worked her entire life from sunup to sundown."
Maudie was a talented clothes designer and seamstress. She could size you up literally in a few minutes and by the time you visited again, she would surprise you with something she designed and made just for you. Maudie could talk and socialize comfortably with anyone, "Kings or Paupers". She always dressed to the tens, was a Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star in Hawaii, loved to travel, dance, and most of all she loved to shop.
She went to school with Dale Clifton Gillespie. Maudie married him in 1943 just after she turned seventeen and just before he shipped out to the Pacific during WWII. She said, "We were just kids and never thought the war would end." They were married 25 years and had two children Sherri and Bob.
Maudie married Bill Armstrong (her second husband) for 25 years until his death in 1996.
Caveat: ©Maudie Armstrong (copyright protected) biography and all her photos and/or her family. They may not be reproduced, duplicated, copied, or sold without the signed authorization of owner Sherri Gillespie.
