October 5, 1955 – July 25, 2023
SOUTHLAKE – Martha “Charlene” Coffield, 67, passed away after a long battle with leukemia on July 25, 2023.
There will be a celebration of Charlene’s life from 1 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 1, 2023 at Calabrese’s restaurant, 1281 E. State Hwy. 114, Southlake, TX 76092. All are welcome to attend. A private graveside service in Bowie will take place later this fall.
Charlene was born on Oct. 5, 1955 in Bowie. Named for both her mother, Martha, and her father, Charles, she was known as Charlene throughout her life, except when her Dad used the affectionate moniker, “Chili Bean.” A lifelong Texan, Charlene graduated with honors in 1974 from Bowie High School and following in her older sister’s footsteps, began her collegiate years at Baylor University, majoring in accounting. She completed her degree at Texas Christian University.
She began her professional career at a big eight accounting firm in Dallas but spent most of her accounting career employed by Lafarge Cement, a large multi-national. After leaving Lafarge, Charlene and her middle sister, Cathy Koebernick, co-founded, “A Tale of Two Sisters,” and became well known in the book collecting world for first edition fiction. Later, Charlene took the business solo and was particularly proud of her personal collection of Graham Greene books.
She married Richard Schneider from Cleveland, OH in May 1986 at her parents’ home and eventually the two settled in Southlake, at the time still a mostly undeveloped area. Charlene loved nature and created a cutting garden at her home, and later became a serious backyard bird watcher, maintaining more than 20 bird feeders daily. Charlene never met a cat she didn’t love, and through the years she and Richard shared their home with numerous house cats and dogs and a parrot named Eli she inherited when her parents passed away. Feral cats spread the word and it was a rare night when trays of food weren’t set outside for them too.
Gifted with a bright mind, Charlene was seldom bored and dug in with gusto to new endeavors, becoming an expert when others might simply choose to learn the basics. Among those, a late life interest in mixology. A feminist and fashionista, Charlene retained her maiden name and even with waning strength, enjoyed a good discussion about the state of country and its leadership, or simply getting things exactly right. Whether it was a dispute over the authenticity of a Scrabble game word or the exact mileage between two places, she would wear down her opponents.
Charlene is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Cathy Koebernick.
Charlene is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, Richard Schneider; sister, Caroline Vetterling; nephew, Tom Vetterling; grand-niece, Kate Vetterling; grand-nephew, Sam Vetterling; Coffield cousins, Linda Stallcup, Kay Dobbs, Whit Coffield and Marilyn Dial; Raborn cousins, Polly Conner and Mary Gomez; as well as her dear childhood friends, Tricia Barnett Monfrey and Keith Deaver and a feral cat turned pet named Becca.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Charlene’s memory to the Leukemia Society of America or a charity of your choice. When you see a kitten, smell a flower or hear a bird sing, we hope you’ll think of Charlene. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Paid publication