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William "Bill" Coker '77 August 17, 2020 10:14 AM updated: August 17, 2020 11:16 AM

WILLIAM LEON COKER
June 24, 1952 - August 13, 2020

Funeral service will be webcast here and will begin 5 minutes before the service begins (at 10:55 a.m.)

William "Bill" Leon Coker was born on June 24, 1952, in Little Rock, Arkansas to William Arthur Coker, Jr., and Zelda Mae South Coker.

Bill was widely known for his upbeat attitude, unrivaled sense of humor, incessant generosity, infectious smile, contagious laugh, genuine care, and unconditional love for those dearest to him. He was a man’s man who loved going fishing with his buddies, making a few bucks on a slot machine, eating delicious Mexican food, and pretending to hunt from his “mobile deer blind” more commonly known as a pick-up truck. Though born in Arkansas, Bill settled in the state he loved dearly – Texas – where he established deep, lasting, and meaningful roots. Throughout high school, he balanced academics, baseball, picking cotton, and later working for the Imperial Sugar Company. Receiving a full-ride scholarship through the Navy ROTC, Bill attended TU for his first two years of college – this, at the height of the Vietnam War. After having items hurled at his white ROTC uniform in protest of the war one final time, Bill briefly paused his college career and instead began his professional career by climbing telephone poles as a lineman. In his own words, it wasn’t until he kept noticing young men – with college degrees – driving nice cars that he decided to return to school to complete his degree a few years later. This time, though, he enrolled at Texas A&M University – the university that couldn’t have suited him better, and one he couldn’t have loved more. Bill graduated in 1977 with a degree in Management and Sociology as a Fightin’ Texas Aggie. From that point on, he successfully held a variety of positions in multiple industries, to include Vice President & General Manager at Sprint PCS/US Unwired, President & COO at Simple Communications, Director of Advertising at the Houston Chronicle, Operations Director at Crestmark Construction Services, Project Manager at Camp Construction Services, and Construction Director at Ascension Commercial Real Estate.

After thoroughly enjoying an evening surrounded by his closest and dearest friends, Bill peacefully passed away on Thursday, August 13, 2020, in Katy, Texas at 68 years of age.

He is survived by his daughters, Cassie Schotanus and Ashley Sidoti; grandbabies, Judah Schotanus, Selah Schotanus, and Scarlett Sidoti; sons-in-law, Alex Schotanus and Paul Sidoti; mother, Zelda Coker; brother, Paul Coker; sister-in-law, Jody Coker; niece, Emily Coker; nephew, William Coker; and various aunts and cousins. He is preceded in death by his daddy and best friend, William A. Coker Jr.

Aside from his outstanding professional achievements and unrivaled entrepreneurial spirit, Bill will foremost forever be remembered as the greatest dad, the best Papaw, and dearest friend.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at the Schmidt Funeral Home Grand Parkway Chapel, in Katy, Texas, where funeral services will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Chad Herold officiating. Interment will be private.

The funeral service will be livestreamed at www.SchmidtFuneralHome.net/obituary/william-coker

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made, in Mr. Coker’s name, either to his grandkids’ college funds online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/bill-coker-memorial-grandkids-fund or via mail-in to P.O. Box 2371, Brentwood, TN 37027, or alternatively to Camp Hope at https://ptsdusa.org/.

THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS
Schmidt Funeral Home Grand Parkway
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Email Details
1344 W. Grand Parkway
Katy, TX 77494

FUNERAL SERVICE
Schmidt Funeral Home Grand Parkway
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
11:00 AM
Email Details
1344 W. Grand Parkway
Katy, TX 77494

© 2018 - 20 Schmidt Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved.


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