Eileen Frances CokerWichita, KS

Eileen Frances (Combs) Coker, 81, retired Bookkeeper, died April 1, 2025, at her home. Eileen was born April 3, 1943, in Phoenix, AZ to Wilbert Wesley Combs and Marie Genevieve (Klein) Combs.

Eileen grew up in Arizona, California, Arkansas and Iowa, moving to Wichita to attend Sacred Heart College (Newman University) after high school graduation in 1961.  She was invited to stay with family, and to go to school with a cousin her age and start her first real job at her uncle’s accounting office.  For the rest of her working career she enjoyed accounting with a little secretarial work until she retired from Counter Top Trends, LLC in Gridley at age 69, then worked a new career as a land researcher part time for Polly Epting’s Land Title Company for 6 years before health reasons caused her to fully retire.

While living in Wichita the first 21 years of marriage, the demands of working, living and raising two kids didn’t allow much spare time, except for square dancing, clogging and 4-H as extra after school activities, Eileen found time to enjoy bowling at different times in a mixed league and a women’s league and card playing with friends.  After the move to Burlington in 1985 there eventually came participation in several women’s bowling leagues and time for volunteering for the American Cancer Society, especially with Reach to Recovery, Relay for Life and Love Lights a Tree.  Finally after retiring from full time work she also was able to invest time in another avid interest, Genealogy.  She has been the President of the Local Coffey County Genealogical Society since 2014, and an officer on the Board of Directors of the Museum since 2012.

Eileen was introduced to Charles Eugene “Chuck” Coker by her cousin in August 1961, and they were married in All Saints Catholic Church, Wichita, on July 6, 1963.  They were the parents of two sons, Brian and Alan.

Eileen was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years on September 8, 2022.  She was also preceded in death by her father and mother, a brother, Wesley V. Combs, two sisters, Louise A. (Combs) King, and Ruth A. (Combs) Branch, step-mother Hilda Marriot (Bewley) Combs, step-brothers Robert Bewley, Steven Bewley and Alan Bewley, sister-in-law Patricia (Vice) Coker.

She is survived by her two sons, Brian E. (Thihan) Coker, Wichita, and Alan W. (Ryna) Coker, Burlington, sister, Mary P. (Combs) (Truman) Hamilton, Monticello, AR, sister-in-laws, Claudia (Sheka) Combs, SD, Carrol (Coker) (Utz) Russ, Liberal, KS, brother-in-laws, Lynn F. (Dee) Coker, Calif, Michael J. Coker, Burlington, KS, Jerry D. King, AR, O. Wayne Branch, OK, step sister-in-laws, Nola (Hiveley) Bewley, Lebo, KS, and Debbie (Pechacek) Bewley, Texas; grandchildren, Steven (Kayla) Coker,  Alexander Coker, Eric Orapeza, Alyssa Coker, Aldrin Coker, Adam Coker; bonus grandchildren, Dustin Wells, Mary (Ruzicka) Smith, Cassandra, Colton  Heaven and Haily Falconburg, Serenity Goodman, Violetta, Jazmin and Pablo Oropeza;  great grandson, Jensen Coker; bonus great grandchildren, Marley Myers, Abby Freeman, Genevieve and Miles Smith, Marshall and Corbin Stuart; chosen children, foreign exchange students, Cristian Brolin, Sweden, and Andre Weisner, Germany, Eddie Payne and Robert Gifford, many cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

Graveside services will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, April 7, 2025, at Graceland Cemetery at Burlington.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Coffey County Historical Society and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.