TERRY LEE COFF, 76, went home to be with the Lord on May 1, 2022. He was born on March 9, 1946 in St. Louis, MO. Terry was the son of Robert Louis and Verona Anna McDaniel Coff. He married Karon Ann Giesler, daughter of Eugene and Lerneda on June 27, 1970.
Besides his wife, he is survived by one son and three daughters, Robyn (Chris) Richardson, Brian Coff, Kelly (Michael) Satterfield, and Stephanie (Bryan) Fendler. He is also survived by his sister, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and other relatives. Sister: Marilyn Lou LaGrand. Grandchildren: Wyatt, Avery, Victoria, Gus, and Dalton Richardson; Josiah, Jonathan, Hadessah and Jameson Satterfield; Kylie (Colton) Bates, Audrey, Austin, and Maisey Fendler. Nieces and nephews: Scott Shelton, Stacey (Brad) Shelton Macko, Kenneth (Sue) Zellers, Kimberly Zellers. Great nieces and nephews: Christopher Zellers, Brittany Shelton-Gunnell, Kenneth “Zac” Zellers, Alec (Libby) Macko, Lauren Zellers, and Garret Macko.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sister: Joann Jane Coff Shelton; and brother-in-laws: Donald Shelton and Roger Lagrand.
Terry graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1965. He set a state record in the shot put and placed first at the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships, ranking 2nd in the nation. He still holds the shot put record for the St. Louis City Public High School League. At Southeast Missouri State University, he was on athletic scholarship for football and Track and Field. He qualified for NCAA Division II Nationals in the shot put in 1969. Terry won numerous MIAA shot put championships for SEMO. (His 1969 Men’s Track & Field Team was inducted into the SEMO Athletic Hall of Fame later in December 2012.) Member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education.
He was hired by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, graduating from the FBI Academy August 13, 1975. He was first assigned to the Chicago FBI Division (1975-1986) where he served as a Special Agent and later as a Supervisory Special Agent. He was transferred to St. Louis FBI Division April 1986, after working a year-long undercover operation. Terry received numerous awards throughout his FBI career including the Certificate of Commendation for U.S. vs Hawkins, U.S. Department of Justice (1992); Meritorious Achievement Awards from the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri (2/1995, 9/1995); Meritorious Achievement Award (Wiskaway) from South Central Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (1995); Case Agent Award “Rackwreck,” St. Louis Office of Labor Racketeering; Exemplary Service Supervisory Special Agent Chief Task Force from the FBI (7/1998-12/1999). Although a Supervisory Special Agent, Terry’s first love was being a ‘street agent.’ He retired from the FBI on January 12, 2001.
He served as Chairman (St. Louis, 2003-2006) and Officer of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. He was recognized for His Outstanding Service to Our Nation’s Children in the AFCA/FBI National Child Identification Program (2013). He was a member of FBI National Academy Associates, Law Officials of Greater St. Louis, Roosevelt Alumni Association, and Concord Village Lions Club. He worked out faithfully three times a week at the YMCA of South County until his diagnosis of bile duct cancer May 1, 2021.
Terry was known both for his generosity and jovial spirit, as well as for his character of Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity as he fought for justice and safety for all. He valued keeping in touch and gathering friends and family together. He told jokes, played practical jokes, encouraged all to ‘enjoy life,’ and ended conversations with “God Bless.” He was dedicated to God, ‘princess Karon,’ his family, his friends, his community, and America. Terry will be deeply missed by so many.
Services will be held Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Canaan Baptist Church, 5409 Baumgartner Rd, St. Louis, MO 63129. Visitation 12 – 3, Memorial Service 3pm.
Family would like donations to be given to Backstoppers Inc. or de Greeff Hospice House. “God Bless-”
May God bless and comfort your family during this difficult time, knowing that he is safe and free of pain and disease, forever at peace within the presence of the Lord Jesus, and you will see him again in God’s glorious heaven. I thank God for Terry’s faithful service to his Lord, to you his family, and to our nation and her people in helping to keep all of us safe through his courageous work with the FBI.
Sending my sincere condolences. Terry was a remarkable man and friend to Tom and I. Thank you for being in our lives. Love to you Karon and family and friends
Terry will always be remembered as an Agents’ agent. An extremely fair and well respected man who will never be forgotten by the law enforcement community. Fairwell to a true leader who’ll always remain in our hearts and prayers.
Rest peacefully my brother.
It is so sad to hear of Terry’s passing. We were friends at Roosevelt and he was always friendly and funny. It was a pleasure to watch him at the track meets then and at all of our reunions since. My deepest sympathies to Karon and family. Keep his memories alive in your heart and he will always be with you. Sandy Pesek Ramsey
Beautiful tribute to a well lived life. Wonderful legacy. Know that the family are in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for including the deGreeff Hospice House in Terry’s memory.
God bless you in heaven Terry. You were one heck of a man here on earth and we were all blessed to know you. You have been a great friend to my big brother for a long time and I k ow he’ll miss you.
So proud to have known him
I’m so thankful to God for putting me in the family that included Terry in it. He was an amazing man that loved everyone. The love he has for his family and friends was beyond immeasurable. He will truly be missed and my prayers are with All of the family. ❤️
Terry I will miss your true friendship and the brotherly love we shared for many years. Our times at SEMO were always filled with fun and excitement. We would laugh so hard we would cry. We were a special match and you made my life better in many ways. I will always love you. Rest In Peace and I pray I will see you again. May God grant comfort to your family and friends.
God bless Terry. He was an amazing Special Agent and more importantly, a wonderful husband, father, and friend. There’s only one way to get to heaven, and he’s there!
So sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you and your family. Terry will be missed by all. Rest in peace our friend and God Bless.
Terry exemplified the terms integrity, dedication, fearlessness, and loyalty. A man who could pummel most men in seconds but did not have an ounce of bully in him. He would always greet you with a big smile and a vice grip hand shake. He was a shining star in the field of law enforcement and was respected by all who were lucky enough to work with him. He will be missed many. A very good man who has left us too soon.
Condolences to the Coff family, Terry was an amazing classmate in new agent class 75-5.
Our condolences to the family of Terry. His passing is a major loss to all who have known Terry over the years. Our prayers are with Terry.
Terry was, and is a legend at SEMO. We first met on the football field at SEMO our freshman year. Before he left SEMO, he put the first wrecking ball to Houck Field House in the form of a shot put, bouncing throws off the wall that were not considered possible when the shot put ring was installed. He was a great man, and will be missed. My younger brother, Bob, had the opportunity to be on the 1969 track team with Terry, and of all the great athletes on that team, Terry has provided us with with the most stories as we talk of our time at Cape. God bless Terry, and may he rest peacefully with his God.
Terry will be missed but not forgotten. Always had a joke or two to share and enjoyed hearing them also. Another empty chair in our men’s Sunday School class and may God comfort his wife and family.
RIP Terry
What an amazing life and career.
Linda Chastain Hale
I first met you at a high school track meet and you were already a legend. Later we were frat brothers at Cape. Tim Luckett who thought the world of you, told me of your passing. I told my brother Pat, and we all remember you with love and respect.
Sincere condolences to Karen, your family, and friends. Rest in Peace TC.
When I left for college in 1965, I just assumed everyone that I met would be pretty much like me. I was incredibly wrong! I met so many wild and crazy and wonderful people who were not like me at all. Terry was certainly one of those wonderful people. I cannot think of Terry without seeing in my mind that wonderful smile of his, or “see” him walking across campus with his letter jacket button only at the very top. He was truly a character in the best sense of the word. He was loved by his teammates, and will truly be miss by everyone lucky enough to call him a friend.
Terry has always been a great helpful neighbor and friend. We will miss his smiling face and little jokes. Larry & Glorita Kirby
I am so glad that Karon put the word to some of us that we could come and say goodbye to TC the Friday before his passing. That was a special moment. The family’s wonderful obituary captured Terry’s accomplishments to a tee; but, even more so his spirit. It’s hard if you’re Roosevelt, SEMO, FBI, “old neighborhood ” guy (like me), or a friend for some other place in his incredible life, and not see something written about TC that doesn’t resonate and bring back great memories, usually with a smile if not an outright laugh. Heck, he even pranked me once at FBI HQ , but that’s another story! Only Terry!
While my contacts with him were sporadic as life took me out of the Lou for many years yet when I did see him, especially after we re-connected in recent years at our neighborhood dinners, it was like you were never away.
Condolences to his Karon, who showed the same courage and he always did during his agonizing illness and to the entire family. Eternal rest to you Terry.
I can only echo John O’Shaughnessy’s fine tribute to Terry. For those of us growing up with Terry in the streets and alleys around Wichita & Kingshighway, Terry was destined to be a legend and the “best of the Hood.” Although I too only sporadically saw Terry over the years, each encountered underscored Terry’s unmatched zest for life. His zeal for life was contagious. As numerous tributes have previously noted, Terry always engaged you with his smile, his laughter and his teasing, but never hurtful, humor. He was a strong, but gentle soul. Life was a joy to Terry. For me, I will hold tight to fond memories of our early, early high school track days when the two of us would practice at neighboring SLUH’s track. I can laughingly say my claim to fame is shagging shot putts for Terry as he worked on his throwing technique. With a smile of my face thinking of his zestful life, I extend my warmest heartfelt condolences to Karen, his family and his many friends. Peace and grace be with you Terry.
To Karen and the rest of Terry’s family, I want to send my condolences. I knew Terry since we were boys playing in the alley behind our houses until the neighbor get togethers he organized later. I will miss him. So sorry to hear of his passing.
John
I first met Terry in 1952 and he is one of the best people that I have ever known. We were together all the time during grade school and part of high school. Terry showed me how to throw the shot put and I recall I was only throwing it less than half as far as he did. I also remember that Terry was looking for a heavier iron ball because a 16 pound shot put just wasn’t heavy enough. We went to a junk yard on Manchester just west of Hampton because they had a heavy ball but when we got there the yard was closed. I don’t remember if he found that ball later but it says something about Terry’s work ethic and his dedication to excellence in life and in the sport. This is evident by the incredible obituary and the many accomplishments that he had. I offer my condolences to Karon and their children and to Terry’s extended family. Rest in peace Terry, we all miss you.