Sandra Coleman
Sandra Coleman, of Canyon, Texas, died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. Family graveside services will be in Shamrock Cemetery, located in Wheeler County, Texas, at a later date. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at University Church of Christ in Canyon with Bob Shepard officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 at Brooks Chapel. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors.
Sandra Coleman was born Jan. 27, 1934, to William Young and Veda Swafford Burden, of Shamrock, Texas, who owned the Shamrock Coca-Cola Bottling Co., hence her love of Coca- Cola.
She was a 1952 graduate of Shamrock High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from North Texas State University and a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from West Texas A&M University in Canyon.
On August 26, 1954, she married John Dee Coleman, but they “met” when she was a threeweek- old newborn, as their parents were good friends. The couple moved to College Station, Texas, then spent four years in Mymensingh, Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan), and by 1960, had moved to Ft. Rucker, Ala., where she taught school at Daleville, Ala., then Grayslake, Ill., McLean, Texas, and Canyon until 1996, when she retired from Canyon Independent School District (ISD).
She continued to teach reading skills by becoming a dyslexia therapist in 1993, and still taught dyslexic students in her home classroom throughout this summer, so she was a consummate teacher, with a passion for students.
Preceding her in death were her parents and her brother, William Erwin Burden, of Bryan, Texas.
Her greatest joy in life was her cherished family and their delightful gatherings at the family ranch. She was a member of University Church of Christ in Canyon, where she taught, did benevolent work, mentored and loved everyone.
Those left behind to cherish her memory include her husband of nearly 68 years, John Coleman; two daughters, Carol Coleman Frye and husband Terry, of Sweetwater, Texas, and Susan Coleman Burgoon and husband Bill, of Canyon; a son, James Scott Coleman and wife Jill Page Coleman, of Montgomery, Texas; “bonus” family, including Brian and Amy Frye Olsen, Zayne, Nicole and Lauren Olsen, Adam, Stephanie and Thomas Frye; seven grandchildren, John Fite and wife Kayla, Katie Fite Wischkemper and husband Jeff, Reece Burgoon and wife Jenni, Riley Burgoon and wife Jamie Burns, and Page, Luke and Kate Coleman; great-grandchildren Maddux, Logan and Miriam Fite, Raylan and Brennan Burgoon and James Wischkaemper; along with sisters-in law Barbara Coleman and Liz Burden and their families.
The family requests that memorials be made to High Plains Children’s Home, P.O. Box 7448, Amarillo, Texas 79114; Dozier Cemetery Fund, 15330 CR H, Shamrock, Texas 79095; or University Church of Christ WTAMU Bible Chair, P.O. Box 427, Canyon, Texas 79015.
