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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of an admired public servant drew to a close |
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with the untimely passing of Hutchinson County Sheriff Kirk Anthony |
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Coker Sr. on March 30, 2020, at the age of 57; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Conroe on October 20, 1962, to Malcom Ray and |
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Maria Santoro Coker, Kirk Coker grew up with the companionship of |
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four siblings, Allen, Bobby, Gordon, and Margie; he took his first |
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job in law enforcement at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in |
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1985 and later obtained his jailer license; he went on to work for |
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the Patton Village, Lone Star College, Spring ISD, and Roman Forest |
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Police Departments and in Montgomery County Constable Precinct 1, |
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before he made his way to Hutchinson County; along the way, he also |
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acquired valuable experience during his time with the Skellytown |
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City Marshal's Office and the Fritch and Stinnett Police |
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Departments; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Coker's 35-year career in law enforcement |
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culminated with his election to the office of Hutchinson County |
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sheriff in 2016; he devoted himself tirelessly to serving and |
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protecting his fellow citizens, and he was held in the highest |
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esteem by his community and his department; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Sheriff Coker enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, the former Tonya Hester, whom he wed on |
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March 15, 2011; his treasured family also included his children, |
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Kirk, Kyle, Thom, Kristi, Hannah, and Alex, and his grandson, |
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Mason; he was a man of faith and a dedicated churchgoer, and in his |
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leisure time, he took pleasure in fishing, camping, cooking, riding |
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his motorcycle, training dogs, and making music on his guitar; and |
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WHEREAS, Kirk Coker touched the lives of countless people |
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through his three and a half decades of exceptional public service, |
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and he has left behind a legacy that will long be cherished; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Sheriff Kirk |
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Anthony Coker Sr. and extend deepest condolences to the members of |
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his family: to his wife, Tonya Coker; to his children, Kirk Anthony |
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Coker Jr., Kyle Andrew Coker, Thom Crow and his wife, Christine, |
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Kristi Coker, Hannah Coker, and Alex Coker; to his grandson, Mason |
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Black; to his brothers, Allen Coker and his wife, Carla, and Bobby |
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Dean Coker; to his parents-in-law, Jar Hester and Pat Hester; to his |
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brothers-in-law, Vince Hester and his wife, Cyndee, Nate Hester, |
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and Brentley Hester; and to his other relatives, his friends, and |
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his brothers and sisters in blue; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Sheriff |
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Coker. |