Gale Edwin Coak

Gale Edwin Coak, 84, former resident of Schell City, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, at his home in Columbia under hospice care. Gale was born on May 16, 1925, in Fort Wayne, IN, the second son of Letis and Esther Endsley Coak, and they were later joined by three brothers and three sisters.

He served in the United States Navy in World War II from December 1943 until April 1946. After his discharge from service, he returned to Indiana where he married Patsy Ruth Miller on Aug. 4, 1946. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom survive. Patsy died on April 24, 1980.

He farmed on the Edgar Morrison place near Swayze, IN, until 1956, when, due to the health of his wife, the family moved to Arizona. Gale became a union painter in Arizona, a job he held for 26 years. Later, he owned and operated restaurants in Ft. Wayne, IN, Camp Verde, AZ, and in Schell City. He moved to Schell City in 1987 and later lived in Trenton for a short time before moving to Columbia.

In addition to his wife, Patsy, he was predeceased by an infant son, Gale Duane; a daughter, Carole Elaine Maxwell; three brothers – Charles, Bernard and Duane (Toots); and two sisters, Leatrice Ringer and Ronita DeVaux.

Gale is survived by four sons – Carl Robert, and his wife, Sheryl – Cottonwood, AZ, William Bradley, and his wife, Leda– Peoria, AZ, Bryant Edwin, and his wife, Deborah – Glendale, AZ, and Jerry Lee, and his wife, Robin – Phoenix, AZ; two daughters, Charlotte Edene Hall – Osceola, and Terry Lynn, and her husband, Billy Begley – Harwood; 17 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; one sister, Phyllis, and her husband, Edward DeLuceney – New Haven, IN; one brother, Ronald Coak, and his wife, Marsha – Ft. Wayne; several nieces and nephews; special friends, Bill Bailey – Schell City and Sharon Morrison Green – Swayze, IN; and his loving companion, Anna Martin – at their home in Columbia.

Services were held Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Schell City United Methodist Church with Rev. Connie Locke officiating. Musical selections were provided by Sharon Goodman and David Souza. Interment with military honors followed in Green Lawn Cemetery, Schell City.

Pallbearers were - Bradley McFarlin Sr., Bradley McFarlin Jr., Ehren Coak, Kyle Begley, Billy Begley, Chad Hall and Steve Smith. Honorary pallbearers were – Bill Bailey, Orval Moore, Randy Harms and Jr. Blakely.

Memorials are suggested to Vernon County People for Pets, Hospice Compassus of Columbia or the charity of the donor’s choice in care of the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City, which were entrusted with the arrangements.