Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
Renda Chase 1943-2025 Renda M. Chase, 81, wife of the Rev. Ronald G. Chase, died May 8, 2025, in Waterloo. Born Oct. 10, 1943 in Mt. Vernon, a daughter of Randall and Doro- thy Cochran Chapman. She married Ronald Chase Jan. 10, 1986. Together with her husband, the Chases served 21 years at Columbia: Bethany, retiring in 2007. Renda was a member of the church and
enjoyed playing the piano and singing. Survivors include her husband; children, Linda (Reggie) Stephenson, Rebecca (Douglas) Brandt, Christopher Shadowens, and Sandra (Michael) Brown; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and sister, Jane Compton, along with other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Aaron Chapman. Memorial services for Renda Chase were held May 12, 2025, at Bethany Church in Columbia with the Rev. Steve Barrett officiating. Interment followed at Palmier Cemetery in Columbia.
Clayton Henry Coffey 1948-2025 Rev. Clayton Henry Coffey, 77, of Salesville, Ohio, died May 23, 2025, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He was born Feb. 10, 1948, a son of John and Elizabeth Coffey. He married Joyce Anne Lares June 27, 1967. She survives.
Clayton grew up on a livestock and grain farm in Groveport, Ohio. He attended Ohio State University earning his B.S. in agricultural edu- cation in 1970, his master’s degree in 1979 and his ABD. He farmed and taught Vocational Agriculture for 10 years. In 1986, he began his ministry, serving as a supply pastor at Mt. Pleasant in the former Southern Illinois Conference. He became a part-time local pastor in 1987, a full-time local pastor in 1993 and an associate member in 1997. His pastorates included Mt. Pleasant, Raleigh-Tate’s Chapel, Herrin: First (Associate); Farina and Sandoval-Patoka-Boulder, from where he retired in 2013. Following retirement, he relocated to the East Ohio Conference and served as directing pastor of the Koinonia Team Ministry (KTM). Clayton was active in the Walk to Emmaus. Having attended his walk in 1993 he remained active serving as Community Spiritual Director both on Walk to Emmaus and Youth Chrys- alis as well as serving on many teams. Clayton also was passionate about Midwest Mission, a disaster relief center, serving on the board from 2014 to 2022 and board chairman from 2018 to 2022. Meals for those in need came to life while he was serving on the board. This became known as the rice meal project. In addition to his wife, he is survived by an aunt, Betty Coffey of Morristown, Tenn.; a cousin, Norman Klamforth of Groveport, Ohio; two nephews, David Lares of West Jeffer- son, Ohio and David (Martha) Fowler of Salesville, Ohio; five nieces; Debi (Tim) Montgom- ery and Vicki Lares, both of Columbus, Ohio; Stephanie (Scott) Kummel of Powell, Ohio, Katie (Matt) Copeland of Belleville, Mich., and Mary Jo Boyd of London, Ohio. His great- nephews and nieces, Luke Montgomery, Seth (Jane) Montgomery, Joel (Abagail) Mont- gomery, Elyse (Samuel) Stover, Caleb Watson, Nicholas (Allison) Fowler, Ariel (Hunter)
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