Tommy "Cooter" Coleman

Tommy Wayne Coleman was born July 13, 1950, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was the son of George W. “Red” Coleman and Alpha Whiting Coleman. He grew up in the Muskogee, Fort Gibson, and Tahlequah area. He was a proud 1970 graduate of Fort Gibson High School. Graduating at the age of twenty, he stayed the extra two years because he said he had a crush on the teacher.

Cooter, as he was more widely known, had many different work titles. He was the owner of “Crazy Cooter’s Toyota Part and Rock Farm.” He was a mechanic, always looking for Toyota trucks to rebuild and get different parts. He was a rancher, roofer, and a box maker. Let’s not forget all the wood cutting, hay hauling, and driving semi-trucks with loads of wheat, corn, soybeans, and sod. Cooter always had a joke or story to tell.

Cooter loved to ride his Harley Davidson Motorcycle. He enjoyed going riding and on trips with his buddies. They traveled north, south, east and west on many different adventures.

Tommy served in the United States Army. He was very proud to call himself a veteran. His tour of duty led him to Kimp-Op Korea. He was in the Battery A, 2nd Battalion (HAWK), 71st Artillery Division.

Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, George W. “Red” Coleman and Alpha Coleman, Two brothers George W. Coleman Jr. “Dagwood””, and J.R. Coleman and one sister, Peggy Sue Colman. He is survived by his two sons, Thomas Coleman (Ada) and James Coleman (Fort Gibson), granddaughters Kaylynn Coleman, Brynleigh Coleman, and Rileigh Coleman. Tommy also is survived by brothers, Edward Coleman and wife Brinda (Braggs), Leonard Coleman and wife Pamela (Woodall), William Coleman and wife Jackie (Lone Wolf) and one sister, Mary Landers and husband Doug (Fort Gibson), nieces and nephews, and his special friend and sweetie, Shirley Minneman.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Cindy Holderbee, Morgan Turner, The Jack C. Montgomery Veteran Hospital Staff, ACG Hospice and Amada Home Health for their dedication and service.

Visitation will be held at Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 West Delaware Street, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on March 31, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and the funeral will be held at Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 West Delaware Street, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on April 1, 2026, at 11:00 am.

Pallbearers will be Jerrod "Happy" Williams, Tyler Hopson, Hunter Bray, Roy Coleman, Brayden Coleman, and Jeremy Coleman, with honorary pallbearers Tommy Taylor, Eugene Meeks, R.D. Underwood, Harley Lovelady "Weewack", Danny Gist, and Jimmy Martin.

Cooter will be laid to rest at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, 1423 Cemetery Road, Fort Gibson, with burial on April 1, 2026.