Foy Coker

FOY M. COKER Foy M. Coker, 82, of Springdale died Sunday, June 28, 2009, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. He was born July 20, 1926, in Barber, Arkansas, the son of Hartsell and Rethal Dickens Coker. He grew up in the home of his maternal grandparents, Robert and M.L. Dickens. After graduating from Booneville High School in 1943, he attended business school for an additional year. He was a United States Army veteran who served with the occupational forces in Japan after World War II and in Korea during the Korean War. He taught fifth through eighth grades for one year in the Barber Special School District and worked ten years as bookkeeper for the Fort Smith Chair Company before moving to Springdale in 1959 to begin a 33-year career as office manager for George's Incorporated. He was also co-owner of C&C Gifts in downtown Springdale for thirty years. A fifty-year member of the First United Methodist Church of Springdale, he served as chairman of various committees, including the administrative board. He was Sunday School Superintendent for many years, and a member of the Builders Sunday School Class, where he served as president. He was a fifty-year Legion of Honor member of the Springdale Kiwanis Club, where he served as president and was honored as a George F. Hixson Fellow. In addition to his work with the church and Kiwanis, he enjoyed family gatherings, gardening, fishing, and athletics, especially Springdale Bulldog and Arkansas Razorback sports. He was preceded in death by his brother, M.R. South. Survivors include his wife of sixty-two years, Blanche Ferguson Coker; one son, William Coker and wife, Karin, of Bellevue, Nebraska; one daughter, Suzanne Cope and husband, the Reverend Gaylan Cope, of Booneville; five grandchildren, David Sims and wife , Natalie, of North Little Rock; Daniel Coker of Bellevue, Nebraska; Paul Coker and wife, Kristine, of Knoxville, Tennessee; Christopher Sims and wife, Tara, of Springdale; and Amanda Coker of Bellevue, Nebraska; one great-grandson, Tucker Sims, of North Little Rock; one sister-in-law, Betty South, of Greenwood; four nieces and two nephews. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 2, 2009, at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale. Funeral services will be held on Friday July 3, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Springdale with the Reverend Britt Skarda and the Reverend Judy Van Hoose officiating. The Reverend Gaylan Cope will conduct a graveside service at 3:00 p.m. at Ferguson Valley Cemetery in Logan County. Pallbearers will be David Sims, Paul Coker, Christopher Sims, Jerry Dickens, Ferrell Dickens, Ronnie Elmore, Roy Halpain, and Travis McCartney. Honorary pallbearers will be Daniel Coker, Bob Collins, Pat Henry, Robert Johnson, Jim Cypert, Gene George, Haskell Jackson, and members of the Springdale Kiwanis Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Rd., Springdale, Arkansas 72762 or to First United Methodist Church, 206 West Johnson, Springdale, Arkansas 72764

Foy Coker

July 20, 1926 - June 28, 2009