Woman who Spent Decades as Educator, Advocate for Nursing, Betty Jo Coffindaffer Keister, Passes at 88
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on March 24, 2025
Betty Jo Coffindaffer Keister, 88, of Jane Lew passed away on Monday, March 17, 2025 at her residence.
She was born in Kincheloe, WV on February 20, 1937, a daughter of the late William E. and Betty Ann Hawkins Coffindaffer.
She is survived by two sons, Jeffrey Lynn Keister and his wife Tracy of Richmond, VA and Gregory Scott Keister and his wife Alice of 
Barrackville, WV; two daughters, Kelly Jo Shuman of Kincheloe and Julie Ann Barriger and her husband Steve of Kincheloe; eight grandchildren, Kolby Rice (Forrest), Haley Wick (Daniel), Christopher Keister (Rona), Michael Keister (Kelly), Wayne Shuman (Stacy), Adam Shuman (Kristie), Elizabeth Anderson (Ti) and Riley Barriger; 14 great grandchildren; one brother, William L. Coffindaffer and his wife Sandy of Kincheloe; two sisters, Carol Nay and her husband Ted of Good Hope and Freda Perkins and her husband Steve of Kincheloe; and several nieces and nephews.
Barrackville, WV; two daughters, Kelly Jo Shuman of Kincheloe and Julie Ann Barriger and her husband Steve of Kincheloe; eight grandchildren, Kolby Rice (Forrest), Haley Wick (Daniel), Christopher Keister (Rona), Michael Keister (Kelly), Wayne Shuman (Stacy), Adam Shuman (Kristie), Elizabeth Anderson (Ti) and Riley Barriger; 14 great grandchildren; one brother, William L. Coffindaffer and his wife Sandy of Kincheloe; two sisters, Carol Nay and her husband Ted of Good Hope and Freda Perkins and her husband Steve of Kincheloe; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one grandson, Steven Guy Shuman; and one brother, Clarence L. Coffindaffer.
Betty Jo was a 1954 graduate of Unidas High School and a 1958 graduate of Alderson Broaddus College with a BSN and RN degree. She began her nursing career at St. Mary’s Hospital right out of school in 1958. She became a Clinical Nursing Instructor in 1963 and retired from St. Petersburg Jr. College in St. Petersburg, FL in 1994. She was a member of the Mt. Carmel Baptist church and the American Nurses Association.
As Betty Jo would always say, “May you always have sand in your shoes and a shell in your pocket.”
In keeping with her wishes, Mrs. Keister will be cremated.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Wings of Hope, 327 Medical Park Drive, Bridgeport, WV 26330.
Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at www.amoscarvelli.com. A service of Amos Carvelli Funeral Home.
