Curtis (CJ) Coffin


Curtis (CJ) Coffin

Curtis (CJ) Coffin, age 26, of Kirkland, WA, unexpectedly passed on to our Lord, December 22, 2010, surrounded by family and friends. Loving son, brother and friend, he was born on February 15, 1984 in Salem, Oregon.  He spent most of his childhood in Anchorage, Alaska where he attended Scenic Park Elementary and learned to camp, hunt, fish, play football and won several ski jumping medals.  In Junior High CJ and his family moved to Kirkland WA where he attended Rose Hill Jr. High and Lake Washington High School where he made many of the close friends he still has today.  After high school, CJ moved back to Anchorage for a time, and then returned to Kirkland to be near his family where he worked at several internet marketing companies in Kirkland.

CJ was a successful salesman, he began his career selling Seattle Times subscriptions, later he started two website optimization companies and contributed significantly to two others.  He loved his work and was known as “the closer”. He was a dedicated Seahawks fan, during the season his Saturdays were dedicated to talking smack about their inevitable win, Sundays were dedicated to watching the game, and Mondays to celebrating wins or lamenting losses.  CJ was the life of the party, the biggest personality in the room. He made friends easily and kept them over the years as he was a generous, loyal friend and people were drawn to his humor and quick wit.  He would give the shirt off his back to anybody who needed it and was particularly sympathetic to homeless people, often giving them his last dollar or cigarette.
With the untiring support of his family and friends, he worked to overcome his struggles with addiction but ultimately lost the battle to finally lay at rest. His family is comforted that now he is at last at peace and hopes that his tragic death will be motivation for others like him struggling with the same demons to find their way to sobriety.
CJ will be remembered for his generosity, exuberance, kindness, compassion, joy for life, his smile that lit up world and for the great love he had for his family and friends. We were all so lucky to have known him and he made an enormous difference in all of our lives.  He will never be forgotten.
CJ is survived by his dog Buddy, mother Gretchen and step-father Gary Cook, sisters Carissa Blume and Suzanne and her husband Jeff Jorgensen; brother Trevor Walker; Grandparents Suzy Bates, Glenda Cook, Dick Ceyler, Quentin “Papa Butchie” (Arlene) Bates; Uncle Richard and Aunt Misha Cook (cousins Steven, Kiana, and Dylan); Aunt Melodie and Uncle Joe Beard (cousins Elizabeth, Stewart, Andrew, and Duke); Uncle Steve Bates (cousins Steven, Jennifer, Scott); Uncle Randy (Sundae) Bates (cousin Justin); Great Uncle Bill (Sharon) McCradey;  Great Aunt Gloria (Gale) Rodgers;  his girlfriend Shanna Still, close family friend Bobby Riddle, and dozens of very close friends as well as lots of extended family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in CJ’s name to your local drug and alcohol recovery center.
A viewing will be held Thursday December 30th 4:00 – 8:00 pm at Barton Family Funeral Services 11630 Slater Avenue Northeast #1a, Kirkland, WA 98034.
CJ’s memorial service will be held Monday January 3rd 1:00 pm at City Church in Kirkland with a reception to follow.  9051 132nd Ave NE Kirkland, WA 98033