Freddie Merle Coward

Freddie Merle Coward, 64, of Sugar Land, Texas, succumbed to breast cancer on Friday, April 27, 2012. Merle graduated from Thomas Jefferson High in Port Arthur, Texas, in 1965; Jacksonville College with an A.A. in 1967; Stephen F. Austin University with a B.A. in 1969 and M. Ed. in 1978. She taught in the public schools in Deer Park and Fort Bend for twenty-one years. Square dancing was Merle’s passion, serving as President of the Cane Raisers for three years and VP for one year. She was also an officer for HSRDC for several years. Merle was an active member of several AARP groups and did volunteer work on their behalf. She volunteered at her church, Sugar Creek Baptist, and at the Stafford Center. Merle is survived by her daughter, Tamina Kay Reed of Cypress; son, Fred Stuart Tucker of Sugar Land; and adopted daughter, Sylvia Diane Crane of Deer Park. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, Timothy Daniel and Stacey Michelle Tucker, Kamia Dae and Jadis Rayne Reed, and Austin Diane and Barrette Anne Crane. A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 PM, on Friday, May 11, 2012, at Sugar Creek Baptist Church, with Pastor Marty Mikelson, Pastor of Senior Adults, Officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Teen Scholarship Fund of the HSRDC, Jacksonville Baptist College, 105 B.J. Albritton Dr., Jacksonville, TX 75766, or to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, at ww5.komen.org.