Drew (Jimmy) James Coleman

Drew James Coleman, Jr., 83

Former Texas resident Drew James Coleman, Jr. (Jimmy), 83, died July 22, 2020, near his sister’s home in Cokeville, Wyoming.

Jimmy was born November 29, 1936 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Drew and Rachel Coleman.  At a very early age, he displayed maturity by respectfully debating various historic and social issues with his teachers.  A self-taught guitar player he enjoyed playing and singing classic country music.  Growing up in a rural setting, he was also an accomplished horseman, and helped-in raising livestock.  Like all western folks, he cherished his cowboy hats, and everyone knows, ‘you just don’t mess with a man’s hat’.  One time, while he was riding a steer,he removed his hat from his head and began waving it back and forth egging the steer on, when finally bringing the hat back up to his head, found it full of steer poop. So shocked by this outcome he fell off the steer while practicing some vulgar language skills.  Another time, after buying and shaping his new black felt hat, he gave very specific instructions to his sister Mary that his hat was not to be touched while he was gone.  Mary snuck the hat out wearing it while she went for a ride on her favorite horse.  Sure enough, they fell into the ditch, the hat came off, and there it went, into the water, and around the bend.

Jimmy served in the United States Army as an infantryman.

Upon his return to New Mexico, he hired-on with the AT&SF railway, becoming the youngest railroad engineer at that time.  He served on the Horny Toad Division between Albuquerque and El Paso, considered by many as the meanest line on the Santa Fe railway.  He was even mentioned in Lenore Dils’ book, Horny Toad Man.  He retired from the AT&SF in 1982, and continued his lifelong passion of fishing and hunting.  Jimmy spent most of his retired life traveling the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming.  He and his love Velma, lived part-time in El Paso, Texas and enjoyed many wonderful winters there.  He is survived by Velma Gutierrez, son Edward Coleman and grandson Michael Coleman; daughter Michele Koppmann; and sisters Peggy Lee Morris; Mary Thompson; Jo Ann Snow; Linda Faucher. Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents Drew and Rachel and sister Erma Jean.

Viewing will be held at Matthews Mortuary in Montpelier, Idaho on Saturday, July 25, 2020, 11:45 am, with funeral services beginning at 1:00 pm.  Burial services will immediately follow in Cokeville, WY.

Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 9, Cokeville, WY 83114.

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