JAMES M. COKER

James M. Coker, 85, of Aurora passed away on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2024.
He was born on Oct. 14, 1939; the son of Liss and Jessie (Taylor) Coker.
He served in the United States Navy from 1959 until 1966. While serving he was near mortally wounded and he retired from the Navy with a rank of Radioman Third Class. He worked at various jobs over the years eventually retiring from Karshmer Metals as the yard foreman in 1985. After retirement he founded and ran Vision of God’s Outreach, a non-profit food pantry and community outreach to help those less fortunate. He also served as Chief of the Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas & Missouri, given the name Chief Wise Eagle.
He is survived by his wife Hazel Coker; his brother, Lonnie (Joyce) Coker; his sisters: Norma (Bill) Wilson, Linda Long and Becky (George) Atkinson; his sons: Bill Coker, Jeff (Janea) Coker and Mike (Nicki) Coker; his daughter, Cathy (Gene) Hall; four grandsons; two granddaughters; and one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Janey Donaldson; and daughters, Jennifer Coker and Denise Van Orden.
Visitation and funeral services were held on Thursday, Dec. 26, in Peterson Funeral Chapel. Burial followed at Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora with full military honors.