Dana Lyn Coya

Bossier City, LA - A celebration of the life of Dana Bailey Coya will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1st, in the Chapel of First Baptist Bossier. Officiating will be Manuel Coya, III, Rick Rowe, C.B. Burkhardt, Leslie Owen Cook, all of Bossier City, Myssi Brown of Atlanta, Ga., and Ron Miller of Tallahasse, Fl.

Dana was born on February 16, 1977 in Shreveport, Louisiana. She is survived by her loving husband of 14 years, Manuel Coya, III, and their four boys, Joshua Carlin Coya, Manuel Coya, IV., Luis Gabriel Coya and Rio Miguel Coya; her father, Gary Bailey and wife Lynette; her mother, Cindy Crochet; brothers Caleb Boudreaux and Cole Bailey, Landon Kennington and wife Emily and Lucas Moncla; sister Megan Kennington; her grandmother Nelda Ritch Bailey; Aunts, Donna Rowe and husband Rick and Connie Crochet; Uncles, Dennis Bailey, David Bailey, Clay Crochet and Craig Crochet; Cousins, Bailey Rowe, Krissy Rowe, Lana Mills and husband, Matt, Mallory Mills, Dylan Bailey; Manuel and Maria Coya, Ana Marzan, Carmen Coya, Jorge Coya and Sergio Coya and many other beloved family members.

Dana grew up in Bossier City, Louisiana. She graduated from Parkway High School in 1995. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in English from Florida State University in 1999. Dana played softball most of her life. She was an All-Star player, All-State and Scholar Athlete in High-School and was recruited by FSU's softball team where she was an ACC All-American. Dana was also very musically gifted and talented but, had a special gift of loving people.

Dana was a faithful wife and loving mother to her four boys. She dedicated her life, time and talents to imparting her wisdom and love for Jesus to them. Dana and her husband Manny dedicated their lives to Jesus while attending Florida State. They met through a campus ministry, Champions for Christ. They have spent their lives ministering to others and helping them grow in their faith on the college campus and abroad.

Dana was the kind of person who could make you laugh and cry, make you want to fight for life and for what was right, and inspired you to live for Jesus. Dana courageously fought and battled melanoma throughout the year. Her battle here ended Monday, October 27th and her eternal life began with Jesus, the Lord and love of her life.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

The family extends their love and appreciation to Dr. Nickelson, Dr. Bryn, Dr. Veluvolu, Dr. McDonald, Andrea Moore, N.P., and Penny Wallace, RN, as well as, a host of many other doctors and loving and compassionate nurses who cared for Dana at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center, ICU and 2nd Floor of WK-North.

In lieu of flowers, monetary gifts can be made to a college fund account for her children in the name of "Dana Coya Benefit" at Red River Bank.