Arthur V. Cohee

Arthur "Art" Vincent Cohee Arthur "Art" Vincent Cohee, age 95, passed away January 13, 2012, in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Art made many engagement and wedding rings for South Bay couples while living in Redondo Beach and Carson, California. Art and his late wife Dorothy ("Dot") operated South Bay Lapidary Supply in Torrance from 1971 to 1986. The store evolved from the couple's avid rockhounding with the Northrop Gem and Mineral Club, the Palos Verdes Gem and Mineral Society, and the Opal Society of Southern California. Art was born June 14, 1916 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Mary Edna and Arthur Roy Cohee. After earning a degree from Purdue University, he was hired by the Navy Department as a physicist just before World War II. In 1952 he moved to California to join Hughes Aircraft, where he worked on the X-15 rocket plane. Later hired by Northrop Corporation's Nortonics Division, he was loaned to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to help resolve navigation problems in the Ranger moon program. As Art's family grew, he found his Palos Verdes Boulevard home in Redondo Beach too small so he passed the contractor's license exam enabling him do his own extensive remodeling. With more sons and a love of camping, he served as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 143 at Tulita School in Redondo Beach starting in 1961. In 1986, Art and Dot retired to Oakhurst to be near Yosemite and the mountains they loved. Art and Dot briefly operated Cozy Corner Gifts on Highway 41 leading into the park before finally retiring one last time. During retirement, Art became very interested in genealogy, discovering and contacting many branches of the family all over the United States. Art is survived by current wife Carolita Alvardo Cohee of Fort Pierce, Florida; daughters, Mary Ann Peterson, Elizabeth J. (Tom) Fancher, Dr. Marjorie L. Manifold, Suzanne (Steve) McArthur; and sons William J. (Lilia) Kulin II, Arthur L. Cohee, and James R. (Liz) Cohee. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Art was predeceased by first wife Dorothy Elizabeth Allee (1994), second wife Caroline Hopkins Gordon (2009), third wife Dorothy Marie Ruby (2002), grandson Jeremy R. Kulin (2001), son Stephen A. Kulin (2007), and brother-in-law Henry Ruby (1998). Son Michael H. Kulin passed away one month after Arthur on February 13, 2012. A Memorial Service will be held in the Chapel at Pacific Crest Cemetery on August 4, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. with interment immediately following. There will be a reception at Rice Mortuary, 2310 Torrance Blvd., Torrance afterwards.