Alvin Terrell Coker, Jr.

Alvin Terrell Coker Jr., known to many as AT or Terrell, passed away Friday August 4th at the age of 83. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services will be held at the Kirk cemetery in Limestone County, Texas on Thursday, August 10th at 10:30 AM, with Reverend Jim Ingram officiating. Terrell was born in Mart, Texas on August 15, 1933 to Alvin Terrell (Smokey) and Eloyse (Breland) Coker; worshiped at the First Baptist Church of Mart; attended school in Mart; and met and married the love of his life, Mary Jane Hardwick, on December 24, 1951. Terrell always loved to disassemble and rebuild anything electrical or mechanical. he enlisted in the U.S, Air Force in 1951 where he was able to continue to rebuild and redesign radios for the Government. After being Honorably Discharged from the service he held several jobs before finding his electronics profession in Civil Service. This required him and his family to relocate many times during his career. He and his family's last move was to Abilene, Texas in 1971. He worked for the FAA as an Electronics Technician for 20 years before retiring in 1991. Terrell then began consulting for companies that contracted with the Government to install new radar facilities. In this position he traveled throughout the US and was able to include his family in many of his adventures. Terrell will be lovingly remembered by his Wife, Mary Jane, and two daughters, Terry Jane Phipps and her husband Mike, and Sharon Kay Brazell and her husband Johnny; two grandchildren, Christopher Young and his wife Tara, and Jessica Young; two great grandchildren, Ayden and Gracelynn Young, all of Abilene, along with several nieces, nephews and cousins. Terrell will also be missed by his longtime friend Jerry Thomason, who he fondly referred to as his "Partner in Crime" and his wife Wanda. He was proceeded in death by his parents, Alvin and Eloyse, two sisters Bettye Joy and her husband Roy Hess and Alva Jane (Janie) and her husband Edward Tate Lowe; one sister in law, Frances (Hardwick) and Husband Dean Dollens, and Granddaughter Krystal Lynn Young. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Meals on Wheels or the American Cancer Society.