Richard Coker

Waynesville, NC-Richard Amis "Rick" Coker, age 67, of 71 Trout Cove Road, died Monday, April 7, 2003 at Mission-St. Joseph Health System.

He was born in Hartsville, SC and was the son of the late Richard Gay and Adelia Amis Coker. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Duncan Coker.

He was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and was a veteran of the US Army. Following his military service, he became employed in the Coker family business, Sonoco Products. In September of 1961, he moved to Haywood County where he was a co-founder and president of Cataloochee Ski Area. Following the death of his father-in-law, Tom Alexander, he became president of Cataloochee Ranch. He was a former member of the North Carolina Travel Council, a former member of the board of directors of the National Ski Area Association, and was a past-president of the North Carolina Ski Area Association. He also enjoyed the breeding of and showing horses which expanded to an additional part of his professional career. His hobbies also included travel and sailing.

He is survived by his wife, Betty McHenry Coker; two daughters, Judith Coker Sutton, of Jonathan Creek and Mary Morton Coker of White Oak; two step-daughters, Katherine Pate of Hartsville, SC and Kristina Hanson of Charlotte; one son, Richard A. Coker, Jr. of Maggie Valley; one sister, Louise Ewing of Mexico and Blowing Rock, NC; and three grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 12, 2003 at the Grace Episcopal Church in the Mountains. The Reverend Dr. Howard W. White, Jr. will officiate. Interment will be at the church memorial gardens. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the fellowship hall. Another reception will be held at Cataloochee Ranch following the visitation at the church.

Memorials may be made to Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, P.O. Box 909, Asheville, NC 28802.

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