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Tuesday, May 13, 2025
10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Starts at 10:00 am (Eastern time)
One of seven children born to Vivian Elizabeth and RC Coleman, Robert Ray Coleman graced this world with his presence on July 30th, 1949, in Houston, Texas. Later known for his sharp, comedic wit, dedication to his passions, and service to our country, young Ray was known mostly for his playful antics and his love for his mother.
After high school, Ray enlisted in the US Army in the summer of ’76. This enlistment led to serving in both Vietnam and Desert Storm – the former of which would inevitably change the trajectory of his life. During this span of time while stationed at Ft. Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, Ray would meet and marry Betty Fairley and start a family – son, Ryan, and daughter, Rebekah. With twenty-two years of service, multiple accolades, medals, bars, and stars, Ray retired from the Army and pursued another passion: numbers.
Those who knew Ray in this capacity will kindly recall the somewhat vacant yet somehow focused expression as he mentally calculated some percentage, some rate, some conglomeration of numbers. He garnered a degree in accounting from what was then Augusta College and began working as a private accountant for Creighton Laircey. While he and Betty parted amicably, his true passion and pursuit in life then developed.
Bridge.
Robert Ray Coleman loved playing Bridge.
He quickly founded what would later become Ray Coleman's Bridge Club, and the close-knit community he built there sustained him after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s—an illness linked to his exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. He desperately wished to pass this Bridge-playing legacy on to his children, who were considerably more interested in the wages paid while caddying at tournaments than learning the game. Through the Bridge Club, he was also able to meet Ann Owens, his partner in all aspects.
In retirement from being an accountant, Ray focused most of his attention to playing bridge, attending University of Georgia games with Ann, visiting his family in Texas, and watching his family continue to grow. He doted on his granddaughter, Sophia. He was thrilled to walk his daughter down her sand aisle in her wedding, then dance with his new daughter-in-law at his son’s wedding, before welcoming his second granddaughter, Johanna, and first grandson, Rhys. He was enamored with the idea of his third granddaughter, Ruby, due later this summer.
Unfortunately to all of those who knew him, loved him, joked and played with him, he succumbed to the complications of a surgery meant to help manage his steadily progressing Parkinson’s. He left this world for a better one on May 9th, 2025. He is survived by his partner, Ann Owens; his son, Ryan Coleman, and his wife, Brittany Coleman; his daughter, Rebekah Burke; his step-son, Thomas Fairley, and his wife, Teri Fairley; his granddaughter, Sophie Coleman; his granddaughter, Johanna Burke; his grandson, Rhys Coleman; and soon-to-be granddaughter, Ruby Coleman; as well as the mother of his children, Betty Coleman; his brother, Ronnie Coleman, and his wife, Carolyn Coleman; his brother, Carl Coleman and his wife Patsy; his sister, Tricia Bradberry, and her husband, Phil Bradberry; his sister, Janice Brent, and her husband, Teddy Brent; his brother, David Coleman, and his wife, Leah Coleman; his sister, Barbara Chitrit, and her husband, Isaac Chitrit; a multitude of much-loved nieces, nephews, as well as the loving family he acquired through Ann. He is preceded in death by his parents, RC and Vivian Coleman, and his step-son, George Evans. His legacy lives on through the people who were graced with his engaging wit, with the skills he developed in dealing cards, the lives he molded as a drill sergeant, and the people who he loved.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Disabled Veteran’s National Foundation or the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Military Service Recognitions: Army Service Ribbon
Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Service Stars
Army Commendation Medal 2nd OLC
Army Achievement Medal
Good Conduct Medal 5th Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Number 3
Overseas Service Ribbon with Number 3
Meritorious Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars
Overseas Service Bar -2
Combat Infantryman Badge
Drill Sergeant Identification Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Sharpshooter Marksmanship Badge Rifle, M-16
Expert Marksmanship Badge M-60 Machine Gun
Kuwait Liberation Medal
Retired Rank: MSG
The funeral service will be held Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel of Thomas Poteet & Son with Dean Hokrein officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 A.M., at the funeral home.
Interment will be Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Starts at 10:00 am (Eastern time)
Fort Jackson National Cemetery
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