Obituary of Martha Colleen Brinker

Coffeyville - Martha Colleen "Cokie" Brinker, 78, of Coffeyville, passed away Friday morning, April 1, 2011 at the Caney Nursing Center in Caney. She was born May 21, 1932 at Afton, OK to Odes Meredith and Verlie Mae (Weddell) Tate. When she was young her family moved to Nowata, OK where they lived until moving to Coffeyville where she grew up and attended Longfellow School graduating from Field Kindley High School in 1951. On January 21, 1955 she married Billy Lee Brinker at Independence. Following their marriage they made their home northeast of Wann, OK where Cokie worked at Kress's and Sears of 20 years. She later worked as a waitress at Ray's Cafe (Dumps & Dot's) and Medicalodges, before going to work at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center where she worked 15 years, retiring in 1994. Her husband worked as a welder and for the Nowata County Road Maintenance Department. Mr. Brinker preceded her in death on November 24, 1998. Mrs. Brinker grew up attending the First Assembly of God in Coffeyville, later becoming a member of the Church of the First Born in Wann. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, canning, and loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Survivors include one son, Taylor "Tug" Brinker and wife Yvonne of rural Wann, OK; two daughters, Pamela Honn and husband Rick of Tulsa, OK , and Glenda Johnson and fiance Randy Cornett of Coffeyville; two brothers, Billy Tate and wife Julia of Dennis, KS, and Dallas Tate of Coffeyville; two sisters, Lucy Bennett and husband David of Conway, AR, and Dorothy Fultz and husband Richard of Altamont; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Randy Brinker in 2006, twin brother, Odes Tate, brother, Jerry Tate, and one sister, Naomi Bowman. Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at the First Assembly of God in Coffeyville. Burial will be in the Brinker Family Cemetery on the family farm northeast of Wann. Friends may call on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice; contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337. Tagged as: Brinker Family Cemetery, First Assembly of God, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice