Howard Ray Coggins

Funeral services for Howard Ray Coggins will be conducted Monday, September 16, 2024 at 12:00 PM at Sykes Funeral Home in Clarksville, TN. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until the time of service. Private burial will follow in Cadiz, KY

Howard Ray Coggins was born in Dacula, Georgia on May 20, 1928, to the late Arthur James Coggins and Era Gertrude Bailey Coggins.

Ray married Nelma Maloy Coggins on 2/26/1976. Nelma preceded Ray in death on 9/26/2006. 

Ray worked many years in the shoe machine business and retired from International Shoe Machine, Inc. in 1998. He traveled many places in the United States to sell and service the shoe machinery plus he traveled worldwide to Mexico, South America, Europe, and Asia. After retirement, he was very active in the Flea Marketing business which he loved.

He served in the U.S. Army and was a very dedicated Korean War Veteran.

Ray was an avid mandolin and guitar player. He was named in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. 

Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Mark Anthony Coggins. He was also preceded in death by his siblings: Brothers, Edward Quillian Coggins and Jimmy Coggins, and by his Sister, Joyce Lita Coggins Chadwick.

On 9/13/2024, at the age of 96, the Lord called Ray home. He was a good husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great grandfather as well as Uncle. He will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew and loved him.

Ray is survived by Daughters, Judy Raylene Fowler (Jerald Aldridge) of Alto, GA, Teresa Coggins Johnson (Daryl) of Suches GA, and Pam Knolton (Sam) of Clarksville, TN; Sister-In-Law, Evelyn Coggins of Bogart, GA, Sister-In-Law, Ruth Mathis (Neal) of Dover, TN; Daughter-in-Law, Pam Coggins of Hanahan, SC along with grandchildren, Michele (Jody) Armstrong, Johnny Jones II, Jeremy Jones, Michael Kendall (Erica), Timothy Cagle (Jennifer), Heather Southiseng (A.J.), Leslie Bryant (Nathan), and Scott Knolton (Mary).

He is also survived by sixteen great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Thanks to the Tennessee State Veterans Home and Gentiva Hospice for their compassion during these last several months.

Please visit Howard's online guestbook at www.sykesfuneralhome.com and share a memory with the family.