Obituary for Marilyn Coker
Funeral Service for Marilyn Coker, age 86, of Yantis, Texas will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at First Baptist Church in Yantis, Texas with Russ Simpson and Danny Parker officiating. Interment will follow at Yantis Cemetery with Joshua Houser, Jon Fortner, Kendall Fortner, Elijah Beissel, Justin Holland, Gregg Barker, Gerald Holland, and Don Wright serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Kenneth Fortner, Scott Pittman, Kyle Campbell, and Devin Knowles. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home. Ms. Coker passed away at Rockwall Nursing Care Center on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Marilyn Lucile Coker was born on August 29, 1938 in Cason, Texas to William (Bill) Washington and Fannie Leonia (Slayter) Suggitt. She spent her childhood in Winnsboro, Texas, where she graduated from high school. She went to great lengths to keep in touch with many friends through the years. Marilyn married L.J. (Sonny) Coker in Stevenson, Washington on March 2, 1956 and they were faithfully married to for 48 years. Marilyn was a Title Clerk for Sewell Lexus for many years. She was currently a member of the First Baptist Church Yantis and was a former member of the Lakewood Baptist Church in Garland for all her life. Marilyn was very faithful to the church and never missed a Sunday. She was heavily involved in the Nursing Home Ministry. Marilyn took great pride in singing to people in nursing homes and hospitals, even though most she did not know. Marilyn was a loving mother and especially a loving grandmother. She would get up at 2:00 a.m. to cook for them if they told her they were hungry. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.
Marilyn is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Fortner (Kenneth); daughter, Angela Barker (Gregg); son, Joe Coker (Sandra); daughter, Tracy Wright (Don); grandchildren, Brandy Chalk, Amber Koffel, Joshua Houser, Kami Colman, Kyle Campbell, Kendall Fortner, Elijah Beissel, Mariah Beissel, Jon Fortner, Dallas Papathanasiou, Dalton Lowrie, and Lauren Wright; great grandchildren, Sydney Chalk, Travis, Fortner, Chase Fortner, Kylie Pittman, Jennifer Fortner, Maddie
Pittman, Kaden Fortner, Kensey Fortner, Luke Pitman, Layla Coleman, Devin Knowles, Emily Beissel, Elias Beissel, Summit Ridgeway, Zelan Beissel, Koa Eudy, Bailey Campbell, Ryan Campbell, Brianna Campbell, Knox Papathanasiou, Emma Coleman, and Dane Coleman; great-great grandchildren, Cason Fortner and Abigail Fortner; and sister, Ann Thomas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Fannie Suggitt; husband, Sonny Coker; sisters, Lola Williams, Evelyn Seales, Peggy Lamb, and Eva McKinney; and brothers, John Suggitt and William Suggitt.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or online at www.https://www.cancer.org/donate
Arrangements are under the direction of Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home.
The online register can be signed at www.murrayorwosky.com
