Gloria Jean COKER

Gloria Jean Coker, born August 30, 1942, to Helen E. (Wruck) Kraemer and Delroy A. Kraemer, died a good death at home on August 22, 2025, ending a good and wonder-filled life.

Although never a morning person, Gloria passed peacefully and quietly at home early in the morning with her husband and soulmate, Ed (Edward W. Coker, Jr.), by her side per her wishes. Her passing ended a four-and-a-half-year graceful struggle with liver cancer, which also had taken her mother Helen's life 16 years earlier.

Gloria is survived by her six cherished children: Christy (Christine Marie Napier), Tina Marie Strand, Nikki (Nicole Marie Reiman), Alicia Jean Addington, Eddie (Edward W. Coker III), and Aaron A. Espadron-Coker.

Gloria is also survived by four siblings – her three sisters: Barbara Hassing, Carol Kay, and Marcia DeWerd; and her brother: John Kraemer.

In addition, Gloria was the grandmother of 12 grandchildren, listed here in birth order: Nick Napier, Will Napier, Olivia Reiman, Max Coker, Jack Reiman, Avery Coker, Quinn Coker, Scarlett Coker, Blair Coker, DeeDee (Everett) Coker, Ameilia Severns, and Malcolm Severns.

An RN by training and a graduate of St. Cloud School of Nursing, Gloria was a flexible professional who worked side-by-side with her husband in many different capacities, always bringing a calm, kind, level-headedness to a myriad of difficult and challenging circumstances.

Gloria was foremost a brave and special Mom, who believed she could lead and shape the successful blending of two families into one unique household.

But, most importantly, Gloria was a soulmate to Ed. Both she and Ed were shaped by difficulties in their lives: Gloria by the sudden, unexpected death of her first husband, Donald Schleper, in 1979; and Ed by a failed marriage to a college sweetheart - Denise Denny. Gloria and Ed relied on prayer to guide them through these challenging times, and both were convinced that a higher power had a hand in their finding each other.

Gloria would often joke, "Be careful what you pray for." While Ed contended that with God's help, "even a blind pig will find an acorn" (Gloria).

Although not a joke-teller, Gloria loved to laugh. She also loved all cookies and had an abiding fondness for shoes. She hated closed spaces and open water, which meant there were never any plans for the "cruise of a lifetime."

A wonderful cook and skilled seamstress, Gloria effortlessly blended traditional homemaking skills with contemporary professional acumen. She was a true Renaissance Person.

Gloria's Celebration of Life service is set for 11 am, October 18, 2025, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on Spokane's southside, with a luncheon reception to follow.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Gloria's name to Hospice of Spokane, whose kindness and care made Gloria's wish to die peacefully at home a blessed reality.