Carl "Steve" Coker

Steve, you lighted our days and nights with your wonderful guitar playing and singing. Always praising God with your instruments bringing God's peace into our home. You were a wonderful husband for 54 years and will be forever known as "Romantic Steve" because you surprised Mom with a second wedding on your 13th Wedding Anniversary in church that she wasn't expecting, so your marriage could be recognized by God after your salvation in 1980. You were Mom's Best Friend. Your bond with Mom was deep and unbreakable even in death. You and Mom will always be married in heart, soul and spirit. You were a devoted Father and even though I struggled with various illnesses in life, you always knew how to make it better and speak God's Peace over me. I was your only child. You always wanted one child and that child to be a girl. Well, you got your wish. We had a magical bond from the time the nurse handed me over to you when I was born and I could tell a million stories of inside jokes that we had together. We had the same sense of humor and really "got" each other. You were kind, loving, and gentle in spirit and had a wonderful, but sometimes out there sense of humor. But, Mom and I enjoyed every moment we had with you. You served the Lord Jesus Christ with every fiber of your being and it was evident to every person you came in contact with. You always had a kind word for your fellow man and would make time for others in need.  You were someone that Mom and I could look up to and admire. You were very special and admirable to the both of us. But, Dad we couldn't have been better matched as Father and Daughter. I would like to thank you for always being there for me and for your never ending patience with me. We will love you until the end of time and look forward when we are reunited as a family in heaven.  

Steve was the oldest brother of three siblings. Jim Crowell, (Spouse Patty Woodhouse), Vicki Lynn Heater (Spouse: Don Heater) and Cathy Corry. His siblings will miss Steve tremendously as they got to go to the restaurant, Ted Peters, in St. Petersburg, Florida where he grew up, a couple of months prior to his death and got to eat smoked mullet and had a very good time. They also got to visit their childhood home during that visit. His neices and nephews always held a special place in his heart. The family is very happy that they were reunited before his passing. My Dad and his younger brother, Jim would go on deep sea fishing trips that they would enjoy immensely.

Edith Page Harmon (Grandmother), Carl Coker (Father), Edith Harmon Goldtrap (Mother), Bob Goldtrap (Step Father).  Bob Goldtrap held a close place in Steve's heart as his biological Father passed away when Steve was just 18 months old and Bob came into Steve's life as an adult and filled that fatherly void. Bob Goldtrap was a godly and good Christian man. He was a good example for Steve to follow. They would often go fishing together. Bob Goldtrap was a contractor and the entire family would get together to build a house out in the country for Edith and Bob. They lived there until Bob died suddenly of a heart attack. We will all miss Edith and Bob tremendously.

Steve graduated from Seminole High School in 1969. Steve graduated from Chef School in 1970.

Steve loved surfing in his younger days. Steve even tried - I emphasize the word "tried" - to teach me how to surf one summer. Then Steve fell in love with music. God called Steve and gave him a gift for learning the guitar, keyboard, trumpet and songwriting. Steve wrote his first Church Musical called "Why The Cross?".  Then in Steve's later years he wrote his first album called "An Offering of Worship". The title song to that album can be found on Spotify. It's called an "Offering of Worship" by Steve Coker. Steve also served as a Worship Leader in the churches we were devoted to. Steve also loved to go fishing with friends and family. I remember when I was little Steve caught a baby shark and grilled it. That was the best tasting fish I have ever eaten.

Steve faithfully worked for Sonlight Carpets for 25 years as a Flooring Specialist.  I remember that Steve always had a kind word for his coworkers and customers. Steve always gave his customers and Sonlight his very best.

In 1980, Steve gave his life over to Jesus Christ. From that point forward Steve led his family as the Head of the Household. Early on Steve smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a day. Steve prayed to God for the strength to quit smoking and the next day he had no desire to smoke another cigarette ever again. God had taken that desire away from him. Steve would then serve as a Church Musician. Steve was on the Worship Team for 12 years at Trinity Faith Center under the leadership of Ken and Rosemary Culp. Steve was also the Praise and Worship Leader for 9 years at Living Water Church under Pastor Don and Maureen Husted. Steve was on the Praise and Worship Team at First Assembly of God. Steve also led Praise and Worship at the Primitive Methodist Church under Pastor Fred and Deb Perkins. Then Steve was on the Praise and Worship Team at Renovate Church under the leadership of David and Brenda Pickerall. And lastly in Steve's later years he was on the Praise and Worship Team at the Oasis World Outreach Church under the leadership of Pastor Rich and Tracy Jividen. Steve served the Lord, our God, with all his heart until his dying day.

He was honored to have served in the Army as a Drill Sergeant for two years. We would like to say thank you for all of those who have served in the military. You all are heroes in our book, and we would like to say how grateful we are to you for serving.