Memorials
Submit a memorial at texasbar.com/memorials or call (512) 427-1830. For information on closing a deceased attorney’s practice, go to www.texasbarcle.com/materials/closingapractice.html.
Edward Joseph Coffey
Coffey, 71, of Boerne, died December
22, 2018. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1978. Coffey was an
assistant district attorney in the Bexar County District Attorney’s
Office in San Antonio from February 1978 to May 2007, serving on the
Drug Court, Drug Prosecution and Impact Program, and Child Abuse Unit
& Civil Child Abuse/Neglect Section; and was coordinator of the
Veterans Court Program. He started the computer crimes investigations
unit at the district attorney’s office and contributed to the post-9/11
security drafting anti-terrorism plan for Bexar County. Coffey
established grant opportunities for Bexar County, including the victim
advocate grant program for prosecutors and a fund for prosecutors at the
Child Advocacy Center. He was a strong supporter of his alma mater, the
University of Notre Dame; a proud grandfather of two; and a supporter of
veterans aid programs. Coffey is survived by his wife of 38 years, Ruth
Coffey; son, Andrew Paul Coffey; daughter, Camille Mari Coffey-Davila;
and two grandchildren.
Ralph Edward
Alvarez
Alvarez, 54, of Houston, died December
22, 2019. He received his law degree from Texas Southern University
Thurgood Marshall School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1992. Alvarez was in private practice as a criminal defense lawyer in
Houston from 1992 to 2019. He made lifelong friends and was a spirited
person. Alvarez was a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan. He had a particular
flair for life and shared it with his son, Austen. Alvarez is survived
by his son, Austen Alvarez, and mother, Gloria Alvarez.
William Stephen Cockerham III
Cockerham, 56, of Ovilla, died
December 7, 2018. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1986. Cockerham was an associate of and
partner in Worsham Forsythe Wooldridge in Dallas from 1986 to 2002, a
partner in Hunton & Williams in Dallas from 2002 to 2010, a partner
in Brown McCarroll in Dallas from 2010 to 2013, and a partner in and
managing partner in Husch Blackwell in Dallas from 2013 to 2016. He
received a Pro Bono Excellence Award in 2010. Cockerham enjoyed doing
pro bono work, and he loved his family and storytelling. Cockerham is
survived by his wife of 23 years, attorney Kristi Cox Cockerham;
daughters, Katherine Kay, Margaret Grace, and Emma Victoria; brother,
Casey Cockerham; and sisters, Courtney Cockerham Rader and Ginny
Cockerham Cohen.
Clyde Daniel Jones III
Jones, 55, of College Station, died
January 17, 2020. He received his law degree from South Texas College of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2008. Jones was a police
officer, police detective, and police commander with the College Station
Police Department from 1988 to 2008 and an attorney with Gray &
Granberry, now Gray & Jones. He continued a family tradition of
legal service started by his great-great-grandfather, J.A. Eidson, who
was appointed to the 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin in 1904. Jones
received the Elks Enrique Camarena Award for drug enforcement work in
1995. He is survived by his wife, Steffani Michele Jones; son, Hunter
Alan Jones; daughters, Amanda Michele, Heidi Anne, and Alison McKay;
father, C. Daniel Jones Jr.; and mother, Martha McKay Jones.
Jack A. Jackson
Jackson, 96, of Tyler, died January 19,
2020. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force Reserve
from 1942 to 1970, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. Jackson
received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1951. He was a partner in Johnson,
Hathaway & Jackson in Tyler from 1956 to 1972, Hathaway &
Jackson in Tyler from 1972 to 1980, and Jackson & Jackson in Tyler
from 1980 to 1996. Jackson was a member and president of the Smith
County Bar Association and received the Texas Center for Legal Ethics
and Professionalism Justinian Award in 2009. He was a member of Marvin
United Methodist Church senior choir and the Kiwanis Club. Jackson
enjoyed defeating his grown children at tennis. He is survived by his
sons, attorney Alan R. Jackson and Joel A. Jackson; daughter, Laura N.
Millikan; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Sharon Shropshire
Shropshire, 67, of Fort Worth,
died October 8, 2019. She received her law degree from the University of
San Diego School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1990.
Shropshire was admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania in 1989. She was
an attorney in Fort Worth for 30 years, serving primarily the local
Latino community. Shropshire loved dogs, Spanish, the ties between Texas
and the Mexican immigrant culture, and her family and many dear friends.
She is survived by her father, Cameron Shropshire; stepmother, Susan
Shropshire; brother, Cameron Shropshire III; and half-brothers, Mac and
Gradylee Shropshire.TBJ
