David Coleman's Obituary
David D. “Mickey” Coleman, 86, of Memphis, Tenn., passed away Monday, June 16, 2014 He was born in Miami, Fla., to the late David Dewitt & Alma S.Coleman on August 1, 1927. When he was 13 years old, his father passed away, leaving Mickey the farm. Mickey attended the University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and lettered in swimming. He also served in the U.S. Air Force. In 1986, Mickey sold the farm, and through keen business insight and investing, he became a great entrepreneur. In addition to being an avid golfer and fisherman, Mickey was an enthusiastic and generous supporter of UT Knoxville, as well as the UT Health Science Center and UT Hamilton Eye Institute (HEI) in Memphis, Tenn. Through the years, Mickey made many donations and established several endowments at UT and HEI in honor of his father. His support of HEI resulted from his admiration for HEI’s director, Barrett G. Haik, MD, FACS, and its namesake, Ralph S. Hamilton, MD. Mickey was also a very generous supporter of the Lutheran Church in honor of his mother. He is survived by longtime companion Donna Schaffer and many very close friends, including Larry Garber, Barrett Haik, Mike Rutherford and Reed Lowrance. In lieu of flowers, it was Mickey’s wish that donations be made to the Hamilton Eye Institute at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 930 Madison Ave., Ste. 100, Memphis, Tenn., 38163. Services will be held Wednesday, June 18, at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, Tenn. 38119. Family and friends are invited to gather at 9:30 a.m., prior to the 10 a.m. graveside service. The family will continue to receive friends beginning at 10:30 a.m. until the memorial service at 11:30 a.m. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, 901-767-8930, “Behind the Stone Wall”.
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