Cheney R. Coker

Cheney Ray Coker, born in Goose Creek and a resident of Baytown for 73 years, passed away on August 18th at the age of 90. Cheney died at his home in Kingwood after spending the day with children and grandchildren. He often said that life had been very good to him, but that is probably because Cheney always approached life with a sense of optimism and faith.

Cheney was born on April 21, 1927. He was the elder son of Selser Augustus Cheney Coker, known as Cheney or AC, and Alma Glen Thornal Coker.  Cheney and his younger brother Bill were raised in a six-room frame house on West Defee Street. He became a committed Christian at the age of 13 and spent most of his life as an active member of Memorial Baptist Church in Baytown.

Cheney graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1945 and enlisted in the US Navy while still in his Senior year. He served in the Navy as a member of the Combat Aircrew and was trained to operate radar equipment, maintain aircraft engines and shoot 50-caliber machine gun from inside a bomber or fighter plane.

After the Navy, Cheney went to work with his father at Hasty Transfer, a moving and storage company in Baytown that dad had bought. Even while working full time at the family business, he pursued his studies and graduated from the University of Houston in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Cheney and his father were equity partners and remained the very best of friends. Cheney expanded and operated that business until his retirement in 2000.

Cheney was a member of the Rotary Club in Baytown from 1958 until he retired in 2000. He also served on the Lee College Board of Trustees for six years.

Cheney married Maxine Lounsberry in 1947. Cheney and Max had two children, Lisa Lynn Coker and Timothy Ray Coker. In 1974, Cheney married Joy Brasher and the family got immediately larger with the addition of Joy’s children – Cindy, Lanell and Al Brasher. Cheney and Joy ensured that the entire clan was raised in an inclusive, loving environment.

Cheney and Joy were married for 41 wonderful years, until her death in 2015. They loved the water and fishing together, especially near their vacation house on Lake Livingston. Throngs of grandchildren learned to swim, fish and ski on that lake. They also enjoyed traveling together to places like Colorado, Hawaii and Germany.

Cheney is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Joy, and son, Tim. He is survived by children Lisa Coker Biggers and husband Mark, Cindy Brasher Harris, Lanell Brasher Smesny and husband Mickey, and Al Brasher and wife Yvonne; brother, Billy Floyd Coker and wife Betty; daughter in law, Bonita Coker; grandchildren, Michael Kent Coopwood, II., Lance Buck, Tiffany Meismer, Cheney J. Coker, Joy Nierode, Meredith Feng, Daryl Starr, and Stephen Brasher; and his great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Cheney Ray Coker was a good and honorable man, and leaves a family legacy based on love, loyalty, trust, hard work, and an enjoyment of convertible cars and anything that can be done from a boat.

A visitation for family and friends will be held at Sterling-White Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., followed by services at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in Sterling White Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Sterling-White Funeral Home, 11011 Crosby-Lynchburg Rd., Highlands, Texas 77562. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.sterlingwhite.com.

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