Nicholas Coachman

Nicholas Dean Coachman, Sr., 77, of Lawrence, Kansas died Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at Baldwin Healthcare and Rehab Center in Baldwin City, KS.

He was born March 4, 1945 in Claremore, Oklahoma, one of six children born to Charles and Leatrice (Wiley) Coachman. He grew up in Tulsa and graduated from Tulsa Central High School with the class of 1964. He continued his education at Northeastern Oklahoma University and ended up at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence. Nicholas proudly served in United States Army during the Vietnam War.

On July 20, 1974 (some would claim it was the hottest day of the year) he was united in marriage to Tina Cisneros in Horton, KS on the Kickapoo Reservation. They shared over forty-eight years of loving marriage. They moved to Baldwin City in 1978. And after raising their family, they relocated to Lawrence in 2002.

Nicholas worked at Haskell Indian Nations University in the Residential Housing Program. He was also a licensed minister and filled in at Haskell Baptist Missions when needed. He generously donated to the Salvation Army and Smile Train organizations.

He was an Oklahoma Sooner fan through and through. He loved OU football and softball. He himself played fastpitch softball, excelling as a pitcher, and his teams won many tournaments in Oklahoma. He also loved to fish and enjoyed playing tennis with his wife.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Leatrice Coachman; his two sisters, Barbara Berryhill and Phyllis Sinclair; and his three brothers, Kenneth, James, and Guy Coachman.

Nicholas is survived by his wife, Tina Coachman, Lawrence, KS; two sons, Nick Coachman, Jr. and his wife, Julie, Littleton, Colorado, and David Coachman and his wife, Mary, Bartlesville, OK; and five grandchildren, Evelyn, Colin, Lily, Adeline, and Josephine, all who loved seeing their Grandpa wear his Superman shirt.

As per his wishes, cremation was selected, and a private gathering of immediate family members was held in memory of Nicholas. The traditional Muscogee Creek hymn ‘Heleuyan’ was sung. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army or Smile Train and sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.