John Wesley Coker was born on January 13th, 1934 in Angelina County, Texas, the only surviving son of John Moore Coker and Corean Mary Squyres, and he passed away peacefully at his home in New Braunfels, on August 16th, 2016, at the age of 82.

John was a man of high integrity and character, a leader and true business professional. While his illustrious sales and marketing career included over eight years as the President, CEO, and Trust Officer of a bank in Woodville, Texas, the majority of John’s work was in the service to the funeral industry in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico. John’s service included 20 years with Texas Coffin Co., two and one-half years as the Executive Director of the Texas Funeral Director’s Association, eight years as Executive Vice President of Affiliated Funeral Supply, two years as the Director of Corporate Development for Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company, fourteen years as an independent sales agent for the Deaton-Kennedy Company and his last three years as an independent agent for Messenger Stationery Products.
John also served for many years as a Board Member and President of the Golf Association of Morticians and Salesmen.

Overall John’s career defined the true meaning of customer service, business ethics, professionalism and plain hard work. In addition to his career, John was also a 32nd Degree Mason-Shriner and member of the Royal Order of The Jesters, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

John Coker’s highly successful business career did not and will never overshadow the lifetime of love, dedication, selflessness, and sacrifice he gave to his family, his friends, and his God. John deeply loved his wife Judy without fail for 63 years. He rarely missed an event or function his children participated in. He served in every church he attended and instilled faith in Christ in his kids. He gave to the poor and was kind to strangers. John Coker loved his grandkids with unbridled passion and he was a fun-loving, loyal and supportive friend to many.

John’s grandkids describe “Gramps” best: “the ultimate jokester, full of surprises, unwavering in support and encouragement, godly, selfless and caring, unconditionally loving, infectiously warm, the kindest man I’ve ever known, truly adored, and an inspiration to all.”

John is survived by his wife Judy, his son Steve and wife Joni, his daughter Debbie and husband Kenny, and his four grandchildren, John Wylie, Kyle, Katherine, and William. There will never be another like big, John Coker. He will be dearly missed, but he will be seen again in heaven, where he has received his inheritance and reward, no doubt with the words from his Savior, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

A visitation will be held at OakCrest Funeral Home in Waco, TX on Thursday, August 18, 2016 from 6:00 – 8:00PM with funeral services on Friday, August 19th, 2016 at 10:00AM. Interment will follow at Waco Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial gifts be directed to either Tejas Cowboy Church – P.O. Box 193 Bulverde, TX 78163 or St. Paul’s Episcopal School – 517 Columbus Ave. Waco, TX 76701.

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