Page 11 - PGM Compendium

became an expert on Constitutional law issues involving State taxation and helped draft several pieces of
the Washington State Tax Code. He worked for the Washington State Department of Revenue until he
retired in 2016.

Chris, many would say, was born a Mason. His mother, Amelia P. Coffman, was a Job’s Daughter and
her parents were active in Masonic bodies. His father, C. Russell Coffman, also came from a Masonic
family. Chris would often comment that his father, both grandfathers and all four great grandfathers were
Masons. He joined Richmond Highlands Chapter of DeMolay in 1966 where he served as Master
Councilor. After moving to Hawaii, he joined the Windward Chapter and was elected State Master
Councilor in 1970. His Brother, James, was also a DeMolay. His Sister, Peggy Mills, was a Rainbow
Girl and joined Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Grand Matron in Washington.

Chris remembers his father talking about one of the early open air Third Degrees at Granite Falls where
he said some Brothers were refusing to attend because a Mason from Europe who was black would be
attending. He found that very concerning and it led to discussions about Prince Hall Masonry and similar
subjects. As a result, Chris chose not to join a Lodge in Washington until Washington again recognized
Prince Hall Masons.

Luckily, that occurred before his father’s first term as Worshipful Master of Haller Lake Lodge, No. 296.
After his father was installed and the family was heading to the dining area, he handed his father his
petition. He received all three degree at Haller Lake Lodge, No. 296 in 1992. He served as Senior Steward
and Senior Deacon of Haller Lake, before the Lodge consolidated with Richmond Lodge, No. 248 which
had sponsored his DeMolay Chapter.

M⸫W⸫ Chris J. Coffman affiliated with Royal A. Gove Lodge, No. 230 in Tacoma, Washington and
served as Worshipful Master in 1998 and again in 2009 after the Lodge consolidated with Fern Hill Lodge,
No. 80. Most Worshipful Bill R. Wood gave him his first Grand Lodge appointment as Deputy of the
Grand Master in District 14 in 1999 and he has served on the Grand Lodge team ever since. His
appointments included serving as Grand Standard Bearer for Most Worshipful Michael L. Sanders. He
served on the Grievances and Appeals Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, and Trial
Committees. He chaired the Bylaws Committee for three years. He was very surprised when Most
Worshipful John McNabb asked him to serve on the Jurisprudence Committee. During his 14 years on
Jurisprudence, he developed an appreciation for the work of a Grand Master.

Chris has served as an advisor to Tacoma Chapter DeMolay and was Dad Advisor for some time. He
received the Chevalier Award as well as the DeMolay Legion of Honor. He was a Rainbow advisor and
served as Rainbow Dad more times than he can remember. He and Lynn served as co-region deputies for
Rainbow and both received the Grand Cross of Color. He was honored to receive the Grand Master’s
Achievement Award in 2013 and Mason of the Year in 2014.

He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 2017. He served in the succeeding offices until he was installed
as Grand Master in 2020. It seems particularly fitting that his theme as Grand Master is “Remember the
Past, Visualize the Future.” The impact of COVID-19 restrictions has caused us to fondly remember when
we met at Lodge every month and enjoyed the fellowship and Brotherly Love that is uniquely Masonic.
We also have had the chance to visualize how we will come out this pandemic and move forward.

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