Jean Coker

Mrs. Barbara Jean Strand Coker, age 94 was born in Milwaukee, WI on April 8, 1928 and died peacefully in her sleep Friday, Nov. 25, 2022 in Mobile, AL. She lost her mother when she was 18 months old so lived with close family members, the Andersons in Blair, WI on a farm which she loved until her father Palmer Strand remarried and brought her back home to Milwaukee. She loved writing and graduated from Girls Trades and Technical High School in 1946 where several of her stories were published. Then, she met the love of her life and future husband Navy sailor Alva Bryant Coker at 18, moved south to Alabama with him and became a loving wife and mother of a son and a daughter. Jean told us many times the night they met, Al asked her to dance at quarter to nine. At midnight he asked, “Will you be mine?” She became active at Westlawn Baptist Church along with her husband, who was a Deacon there. She was a very creative and multi-talented artist and would help with church plays by writing, painting backdrops, arranging their flowers, holding craft sessions with anyone interested and decorated amazing eggs. One of her Ostrich eggs was put in a New Zealand museum! She also loved baseball and became the elementary school kids’ softball coach for several years. The neighborhood kids always played sports at their house. She was also an amazing seamstress making several dresses and bridal veils free for friends and family and a wonderful baker. Her signature paintings are of Magnolias but also painted beautiful realistic land and seascapes. She was so proud of her family and loved watching her grandson Jake play quarterback and win for the University of Alabama. Her friends became family and everyone loved her. She will be missed by many, but is now home with her long missed husband, Al!

Jean was preceded in death by her loving husband of almost 63 years, her mother Blanche Miklethun Strand, her father Palmer Ole Strand, sister-in-love Verla Mae Coker Smith, nephew Henry Eugene Smith, niece Sharon Smith Yates, nephew-in-law Chico Yates, nieces Michele Smith Wilkins, cousin, Jimmy Coker, and cousin-in-law Clay Myers. Survivors include: one son Bryant Alan Coker (Sonya), one daughter Julie Coker Slager (Tom), three grandchildren: Tara Cleveland, Jeanne Coker Moore (Bobby), and Bryant Jacob Coker (Sarah), one great granddaughter Palmer Coker; one brother David P. Strand, one sister Kathleen Strand Bischoff, four nephews: Terry Smith (Sue), Jerry Smith (Patsy), Gary Smith, Ernie Smith (Tracy), two nieces: Marcia Smith Turner (Charles), Debra Smith Browning (Stan), cousin Ruth Coker Myers, numerous other relatives and many friends.

The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at Pine Crest Funeral Home, with a service following in the chapel. Interment will follow in Pine Crest Cemetery.