of Batesville, AR

February 24, 1939 - January 2, 2024

James Michael ''Mickey'' Coe of Batesville, born February 24, 1939 to the late Emil H. Coe and Tennie Coe of Bald Knob, died Tuesday, January 2, 2024. He leaves his childhood sweetheart and wife of 63 years Shirley H. Coe; son Michael Coe and Randi Douglas of Oregon, their children James (wife Crystal, children Merrick and Aressana) of California and Roxanne (husband Mike, their children Lucinda and Greta) of Minnesota; brother-in-law James L. Hare and his wife Jeane of Quitman, AR, and their daughters Sherri (husband Kevin, and their son, Zach) of Memphis, TN and Sheila (husband Kevin) of Quitman, AR, and their children Mallorie, Lance, Maddie, Brittany, and Sam.

Mickey was a graduate of Hendrix College and later earned a Master's degree in organic chemistry at The University of Memphis. The family moved to Kingsport, TN where he worked as a chemist and chemical engineer for Eastman Kodak. In 1978 the family moved back to Arkansas when Mickey helped develop the Eastman Chemical Company manufacturing plant at Batesville. After retiring from Eastman he earned a real estate license and worked with Shirley in her real estate brokerage.

Mickey was an all-state football player and a basketball and track athlete in high school and a devoted lifelong sports fan. He grew up hunting and fishing with Emil and Tennie, played piano as a youth, and sang in the Bald Knob High School Ensemble and Boy's Quartet. He had many interests and hobbies, including restoration of the family's lovely historic Main Street home in Batesville, where he served as host for many special community events. He also enjoyed reading history and historical fiction, building miniature ships and doll houses, solving household engineering problems, playing bridge and golf, traveling, and maintaining a vacation home on Lake Hamilton with water activities and Hot Springs amenities. For many years he had season tickets to Broadway plays at Robinson Center in Little Rock. He served on the board of the Old Independence Regional Museum in Batesville and was a member of First United Methodist Church.

Mickey especially enjoyed working with The Boy Scouts. His father, Emil, was a scoutmaster and Mickey became an Eagle Scout as a teenager and went on to serve as a troop and district leader and as a trainer of other scoutmasters with the Wood Badge leadership program. His son, Michael, also became an Eagle Scout and learned outdoor skills from Mickey, including on a memorable 10-day backpacking trip in the mountains of New Mexico and many backpacking trips and summer camps in the Appalachian Mountains.

The family would like to express its appreciation to the caregivers at Magnolia Wing of Wood-Lawn Heights skilled nursing facility.

A visitation will be held from 12 to 2pm on Friday, January 12th at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at Oaklawn Cemetery at 2:30pm. Honorary pallbearers include Jim Hare, Robert Fitzgerald, Richard Peiserich, Donald Bone, Ted Thomas, and Gilbert Alston.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Old Independence Regional Museum, 380 S Ninth Street, Batesville AR 72501 or to First United Methodist Church, 615 E Main Street, Batesville, AR 72501.

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