William Smith "Sonny" Coker passed away Monday at his home in Wauchula, FL.
An army veteran and former Hardee County Supervisor of Elections (1985-2001), Coker was the son of Cabot S. and Amzie B. Coker in Arcadia, FL. Arcadia was named after his grandmother, Arcadia Coker, in 1926, after she had displayed her pioneering hospitality, preparing a cake for crews working to build the community along the east side of the Peace River.
Later, Coker grew up in Limestone, FL, before moving to Wauchula, FL, where he was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Southside Baptist Church and Florida's First Assembly of God.
While attending Hardee High School (Wauchula), Coker explored his interests in business, leadership, economics, and agriculture as a member of FFA, FHA and FBLA clubs. He was active in high school football and judging by the quote listed next to his 1957 high school yearbook photo, faculty and staff must have known Coker was ahead of his game: "Nothing is too high for a man to reach, but he must climb with care and confidence." – Hans Christian Andersen
Coker started his professional career as a sales clerk at Western Auto Supply Company, a specialty retail chain. He later served as a park ranger at Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, FL and at Gamble Mansion Historic State Park in Ellenton, FL, combining his love of the great outdoors with his love of community. Still focused on community service and civic duty, Coker switched gears in 1980 when he was asked to be Deputy Supervisor of Elections from 1981 to 1985. He was then elected as Hardee County Supervisor of Elections, a position he would hold until his retirement in 2001.
Those who knew Sonny Coker remember him as a man of strong faith, integrity, and humor;a man with a warm demeanor who radiated kindness. He loved to fish, hunt and to spend time with family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Ann Neal Coker; sisters: Lucille Powell, Loretha Lowe, Zilla Edmark, Alice Keene, Anna Belle; and his brother, Charles Coker.
Visitation will be on Thursday, June 29, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home at 205 N 9th Ave., Wauchula, FL 33873. Graveside services will be held at Wauchula Cemetery on Friday, June 30, 2023, at 9 a.m. at 1140 Hwy 17, Wauchula, FL.
An army veteran and former Hardee County Supervisor of Elections (1985-2001), Coker was the son of Cabot S. and Amzie B. Coker in Arcadia, FL. Arcadia was named after his grandmother, Arcadia Coker, in 1926, after she had displayed her pioneering hospitality, preparing a cake for crews working to build the community along the east side of the Peace River.
Later, Coker grew up in Limestone, FL, before moving to Wauchula, FL, where he was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Southside Baptist Church and Florida's First Assembly of God.
While attending Hardee High School (Wauchula), Coker explored his interests in business, leadership, economics, and agriculture as a member of FFA, FHA and FBLA clubs. He was active in high school football and judging by the quote listed next to his 1957 high school yearbook photo, faculty and staff must have known Coker was ahead of his game: "Nothing is too high for a man to reach, but he must climb with care and confidence." – Hans Christian Andersen
Coker started his professional career as a sales clerk at Western Auto Supply Company, a specialty retail chain. He later served as a park ranger at Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, FL and at Gamble Mansion Historic State Park in Ellenton, FL, combining his love of the great outdoors with his love of community. Still focused on community service and civic duty, Coker switched gears in 1980 when he was asked to be Deputy Supervisor of Elections from 1981 to 1985. He was then elected as Hardee County Supervisor of Elections, a position he would hold until his retirement in 2001.
Those who knew Sonny Coker remember him as a man of strong faith, integrity, and humor;a man with a warm demeanor who radiated kindness. He loved to fish, hunt and to spend time with family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Ann Neal Coker; sisters: Lucille Powell, Loretha Lowe, Zilla Edmark, Alice Keene, Anna Belle; and his brother, Charles Coker.
Visitation will be on Thursday, June 29, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home at 205 N 9th Ave., Wauchula, FL 33873. Graveside services will be held at Wauchula Cemetery on Friday, June 30, 2023, at 9 a.m. at 1140 Hwy 17, Wauchula, FL.
William Smith "Sonny" Coker passed away Monday at his home in Wauchula, FL.
An army veteran and former Hardee County Supervisor of Elections (1985-2001), Coker was the son of Cabot S. and Amzie B. Coker in Arcadia, FL. Arcadia was named after his grandmother, Arcadia Coker, in 1926, after she had displayed her pioneering hospitality, preparing a cake for crews working to build the community along the east side of the Peace River.
Later, Coker grew up in Limestone, FL, before moving to Wauchula, FL, where he was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Southside Baptist Church and Florida's First Assembly of God.
While attending Hardee High School (Wauchula), Coker explored his interests in business, leadership, economics, and agriculture as a member of FFA, FHA and FBLA clubs. He was active in high school football and judging by the quote listed next to his 1957 high school yearbook photo, faculty and staff must have known Coker was ahead of his game: "Nothing is too high for a man to reach, but he must climb with care and confidence." – Hans Christian Andersen
Coker started his professional career as a sales clerk at Western Auto Supply Company, a specialty retail chain. He later served as a park ranger at Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, FL and at Gamble Mansion Historic State Park in Ellenton, FL, combining his love of the great outdoors with his love of community. Still focused on community service and civic duty, Coker switched gears in 1980 when he was asked to be Deputy Supervisor of Elections from 1981 to 1985. He was then elected as Hardee County Supervisor of Elections, a position he would hold until his retirement in 2001.
Those who knew Sonny Coker remember him as a man of strong faith, integrity, and humor;a man with a warm demeanor who radiated kindness. He loved to fish, hunt and to spend time with family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Ann Neal Coker; sisters: Lucille Powell, Loretha Lowe, Zilla Edmark, Alice Keene, Anna Belle; and his brother, Charles Coker.
Visitation will be on Thursday, June 29, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home at 205 N 9th Ave., Wauchula, FL 33873. Graveside services will be held at Wauchula Cemetery on Friday, June 30, 2023, at 9 a.m. at 1140 Hwy 17, Wauchula, FL.
An army veteran and former Hardee County Supervisor of Elections (1985-2001), Coker was the son of Cabot S. and Amzie B. Coker in Arcadia, FL. Arcadia was named after his grandmother, Arcadia Coker, in 1926, after she had displayed her pioneering hospitality, preparing a cake for crews working to build the community along the east side of the Peace River.
Later, Coker grew up in Limestone, FL, before moving to Wauchula, FL, where he was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Southside Baptist Church and Florida's First Assembly of God.
While attending Hardee High School (Wauchula), Coker explored his interests in business, leadership, economics, and agriculture as a member of FFA, FHA and FBLA clubs. He was active in high school football and judging by the quote listed next to his 1957 high school yearbook photo, faculty and staff must have known Coker was ahead of his game: "Nothing is too high for a man to reach, but he must climb with care and confidence." – Hans Christian Andersen
Coker started his professional career as a sales clerk at Western Auto Supply Company, a specialty retail chain. He later served as a park ranger at Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, FL and at Gamble Mansion Historic State Park in Ellenton, FL, combining his love of the great outdoors with his love of community. Still focused on community service and civic duty, Coker switched gears in 1980 when he was asked to be Deputy Supervisor of Elections from 1981 to 1985. He was then elected as Hardee County Supervisor of Elections, a position he would hold until his retirement in 2001.
Those who knew Sonny Coker remember him as a man of strong faith, integrity, and humor;a man with a warm demeanor who radiated kindness. He loved to fish, hunt and to spend time with family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Ann Neal Coker; sisters: Lucille Powell, Loretha Lowe, Zilla Edmark, Alice Keene, Anna Belle; and his brother, Charles Coker.
Visitation will be on Thursday, June 29, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home at 205 N 9th Ave., Wauchula, FL 33873. Graveside services will be held at Wauchula Cemetery on Friday, June 30, 2023, at 9 a.m. at 1140 Hwy 17, Wauchula, FL.
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