Roberta A. "Poo" Coker (Austin)

Roberta A. Coker, affectionally known as Poo passed away on January 3, 2022.

Roberta was born on April 6, 1941 in Kansas City, Missouri to Robert Austin and Mary Jane Stevenson Austin.

At a young age and given her love of Winnie the Pooh, she acquired the nickname Poo and was known throughout her life as Poo.

She was a 1959 graduate of Raytown High School, where she was a proud member of the cheerleading squad. She attended CMSU, eventually earning a Master’s in Arts and Communication Studies from UMKC.

Poo was Director of Community Relations for the Independence School District for 29 years, before retiring in 2008.

Poo was a PEO Golden Girl and member of PEO Chapter IK, Independence, a past President and sustaining member of the Independence Junior Service League, and a member and first female President of the Independence Rotary Club.

She was a Board member and past chair of both the Truman Heartland Foundation and the Independence Chamber of Commerce, Past Chair of the independence Tourism Commission, and Save the Truman Depot.
She was a member of many community boards, including Friends of Powell Gardens, Horizon academy, Raytown Historical Society, Community Services League, Hope House, and served on the advisory committee for the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
Poo was a docent at the Truman Library and wrote a weekly column for The Independence Examiner “Poo’s Corner.”

She was in the first class of Raytown graduates to be inducted into the Raytown Alumni Hall of Fame.
Poo was the first recipient of the Independence Citizen of the Year Truman Heartland Foundation 1996.
Recipient of Lifetime Achievement award and Woman of Distinction from the Independence Examiner.

Poo dedicated her life to being a cheerleader for her community.

She was preceded in death by her parents USAF Colonel Robert Austin and Mary Jane Grey.

Poo is survived by daughter Shellie (Page) Kemna, son in law Don Kemna, of Kansas City, and granddaughter Page Kemna of Denver. Son Jerry Page and granddaughter Amanda Page of Independence.
Former husbands Jerry Page and Ross Coker. Sister JoDee Austin. Stepmother Pauline Austin of Worland, Wyoming. Sister Donna Crawford of Glennrock Wyoming and brother Dale Austin of Casper, Wyoming.

A public celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date in Spring of 2022, with private family inurnment.

The family would like the thank Missouri Hospice and Palliative Care for their compassionate care and kindness for Poo.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Truman Heartland Legacy Fund