RIP James Rufus Cobern

James Rufus Cobern

LAMPASAS James Rufus Cobern, age 73, passed away peacefully at home July 29, 2011, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Rufus was born in San Saba, Texas, on Aug. 30, 1937, to Lillian (Gage) and L.P. "Slim" Cobern. He was a beloved coach, teacher and mentor and influenced the lives of hundreds of former students from Comstock to Santa Anna to Paint Rock and Lometa, where he retired in 1992, to his ranch on the Cherokee Creek near Bend. He was a member of the Bend Church of Christ and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason with the Masonic Lodge of Paint Rock, Texas. Rufus married Lee Ellen West on Sept. 13, 1958, in San Saba, Texas. She preceded him in death on Aug. 6, 1989. He married Tommye Mae (January) Marley on Aug. 30, 1995, in Bend. Rufus was also preceded in death by his father, L.P. "Slim" Cobern. Survivors include his wife, Tommye Cobern of Bend; his mother, Lillian Cobern of San Saba; his daughter, Vickilee (Cobern) Peters and son-in-law David Peters of Duncanville; and his son, Rusty Cobern and daughter-in-law Pam (Quirk) Cobern of Austin. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Ryan and Garrett Peters and Chase, Mason and Aubrey Lee-Ellen Cobern. When Rufus and Tommye married, his family was expanded. Rufus loved Tommye's children as if they were his own. He was preceded in death by son Wade Marley. Survivors include son Kerry Marley of Katy; daughter Tanya (Marley) Chalfant and son-in-law Jeffrey Chalfant of Austin. He is also survived by grandson Adam Marley and wife Rebekah (Ferrel) Marley of Huffman; granddaughter Lorie (Marley) Williams and husband Oscar Williams, also of Huffman; grandson Kort Marley and wife Morgan (Kreager) Marley of Atascocita; granddaughter Ashley Chalfant; great-grandchildren Christiana Williams, and Kameron and Kandance Marley; and sister-in-law Sammie (Lemmons) Eddleman and Charles Eddleman of Evant. Rufus will be laid to rest in a private burial. A celebration of Rufus' life will be scheduled at a later date pending the return of his two oldest grandsons who are out of the state for the summer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Lee and Rufus Cobern Scholarship Fund care of Lometa ISD, P.O. Box 250, Lometa, TX 76853. Arrangements are by Sneed Funeral Chapel, 201 East Third Street Lampasas, TX 76550.