DIANE MARTIN COFFEY
Diane Martin “Marty” Forrest-Coffey, 76, died April 15, 2025.
She was born on Jan. 5, 1949, in San Diego, Calif., to Captain Blake Samuel and Diane Longhurst Forrest. Marty was the second child and the adored daughter. Until she was about 12, her life was spent on Naval bases and in Episcopal Church schools. During these years she developed a strong sense of family and a love for animals.
While living on the bases she took riding lessons and began to ride competitively in equestrian events. Earning ribbons and admiration for the horses she was trained on, she built a lifelong love for both riding and all horses. Marty would later recall that these were some of the best years of her life.
Her next love was also found in these early years, dogs. She loved them all, but to her last day she loved Scottish Terriers the most. Over her life she owned many, Nessie being her last.
When Marty was about 12, the family moved to Mexia. Her father had retired from the military and wanted to be close to his family. This is where she spent most of the rest of her life. Coming to Texas was a big change, but she began making friends and many of those became her first “girls”. This group of young girls grew into women who have been in each other’s lives for more than 60 years. She was thankful and blessed with these friendships and cherished each of them more and more in her later life.
In December of 1971, Marty married Ray Morgan Fessler, a young man she meant through a local horseman in Mexia. Their marriage produced three daughters: Genoese Lynn, Jessica Forrest and Joanna Morgan. These three girls became Marty’s focus and at times her strength and at time her headaches! They were her second set of “girls.”
After her divorce she married her soulmate, Stephen Lee Coffey and she gained her bonus son, Jason Coffey. The couple remained in Mexia and raised their family. When all the kids were gone, they began to travel, and Marty once again began to ride. She and Steve often camped and if possible, they would find a place to ride.
Her free spirit and loving nature will live on in the infl uence she had on her loved ones. Marty loved her family, she loved her church, she loved her friends, and she loved her pets. She will be forever cherished and missed.
Marty is preceded in death by her father and mother, Capt. Blake and Diane Forrest, her brother, Blake Frederick Forrest and her loving husband, Stephen Lee Coffey.
She is survived by her loving daughters and their families: Genny Lawson, Jessie Motley and husband, Tommy, Jodie Maki and husband, Erik, and her bonus son, Jason Coffey. Grandchildren: Blake Walker and wife, Samantha; Brady Walker and wife, Stephanie; Kori Staggs and husband, Jackson; Nolan Maki and wife, Zoe; Nathan Maki and wife, Emily; Kinley Staggs; Jason Coffey, Jr. and wife, MaCayla and Maddie Coffey. Her adoring great-grandchildren: Bristol Walker; Weston Walker; Hazel Walker; Brooks Walker; Sawyer Maki; Sage Coffey; Sienna Coffey; Kenneth Coffey and Tatum Coffey Marty is also survived by a fabulously close group of “girls” that the family would like to thank for their time and attention over the last several years helping to get her to doctors and places when they could not; Audrey Mc-Cullough, Joann Harral, Debbie Walton, Marlene Waters, and Sherry Kennedy. There are many other close friends that were in her life and the family appreciates you all.
Marty adored folk music for the early 1960’s one of her favorite songs was Turn, Turn, Turn. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” The family would like to thank everyone for the messages and the love shown at this time.
There was a memorial service held at Christ Episcopal Church, Mexia on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 4 p.m. There was a time for reflection and memories immediately following for anyone who wanted to visit with the family or share in the Parish Hall.
