Mac L. Coker

Mac L. Coker of Austin passed away October 6, 2005. He was born October 22, 1911 in Abilene, Texas. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Dellis Coker, who moved to Dallas in 1917. He was a great-grandson of James Mitchell, who moved from Alabama to Madison County, Texas in 1865. Mac is survived by his devoted wife, Mallie Boyd Coker, who is a native of Lexington, Lee County, Texas. They were married in Austin July 16, 1955. He is also survived by one son, Mac L. Coker, Jr. of Dallas; one daughter, Carol Staton of Flagstaff, Arizona; and by five grandchildren and six-great grandchildren. Mac graduated from high school in Dallas. In 1933 he graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Science Degree. While at SMU he was a teaching-assistant in Geology; and a member of the Mustang Band and Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. He was a member of Westlake United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge #220, Headliners Club and Austin Club. He served forty-two months in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, including 25 months overseas with the Fifth Air Force in the New Guinea, Bismarck Archipeligo, Biak, Leyte and Luzon campaigns. He was awarded five decorations, and was promoted to the grade of Captain in March 1945. He was a Certified Petroleum Geologist. His professional career included 30 years with the Oil and Gas Division of the Texas Railroad Commission, where he served 14 years as Director of Technical Hearings. He also worked 21 years as a Petroleum Consultant in Corpus Christi and Austin; and in Caracas, Venezuela. He was appointed to the research committee of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission by Governors Shivers, Daniel, Connally, Smith, Briscoe, Clements and White. To list those to whom we owe a debt of gratitude would take volumes, but we must make special mention of Debbie Brindle, who was at his bedside through-out his long illness; and caretakers, Laura Wynns and J.R. McGuyer. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 9th. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 10, 2005 at Westlake Hills United Methodist Church, 1460 Red Bud Trail. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, Hospice Austin, Westlake Hills United Methodist Church, or a charity of your choice. Obituary and guestbook available online at wcfish.com