Myrtle Evelyn Coker

Myrtle Evelyn Coker, 92, of De Soto, Kansas passed away April 21, 2012 at Good Samaritan of Olathe.  Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Thursday, April 26, 2012 at the De Soto United Methodist Church, 8760 Kill Creek Rd., with private family burial at De Soto Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 – 11:00 am Thursday, before the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the De Soto United Methodist Church or Relay For Life of De Soto. Arrangements: Bruce Funeral Home, Gardner, KS (913) 856-7111. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com
Myrtle was born March 5, 1920 in Prairie Center, KS to Clifford A. and Mary (Jarman) Rowe. She was a life-long De Soto area resident. She married James “Leon” Coker January 29, 1947 in Olathe, KS. Myrtle worked as a banker at the De Soto State Bank for 40 years and helped her husband maintain family farms and rentals. She was a member of the De Soto United Methodist Church where she served as treasurer for 40 years, was a trustee and an active UMW member. Myrtle was an active volunteer for the city of De Soto and also a member of the De Soto Chamber of Commerce, De Soto Economic Enhancement Committee and Monticello Historical Society. She was an exceptional community leader and will be dearly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Leon in 2008. Myrtle is survived by her children: Dr. James (Andrea) Tatkon-Coker, Mason City, IA, Steven Coker, De Soto, KS, Mary (Kurt) Guntert, De Soto, KS and Roy (Dodie) Coker, Lawrence, KS; sisters, Doris Haselwanter, San Juan Capistrano, CA, and Bertha Brashears, Greenville, TX; eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.