Harold Leo Coakley

Harold L. Coakley, 90, died Tuesday, October 30, 2007, at the Veterans Victory Home, Walterboro, SC. He was born on September 5, 1917 in Fairfax, Iowa, the son of John and Frances Slattery Coakley. The family moved off their farm during the Great Depression to Dubuque, Iowa. He married Mary M. Schwartz on September 9, 1943. She preceded him in death on September 18, 2003. He served in the US Army from 1941-1945 and participated in the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day, plus 3) during World War II and was awarded numerous Campaign Ribbons, citations and medals. After the war he worked for the US Postal Service in Dubuque, Iowa for 33 years. He retired to Buies Creek, North Carolina in 1978 where he enjoyed playing golf and traveling. He returned to Dubuque, Iowa in 1997. He moved to Bluffton, SC to be near his son and family in 2006.He was devoted to his family and especially loved his grandchildren. He valued education and was an avid reader. Following retirement he began playing golf, a game at which he excelled and became a real lover of the sport.He is survived by his son, William (Deborah) Coakley of Bluffton, SC; daughter, Karen (Robert Laub) Coakley of White Plains, NY; four grandchildren, Matthew (Sarah) Coakley of Portland, OR, Kenny Coakley of Bluffton, SC, Andrew C. Laub of Beijing, China, Meghan C. Laub of the University of San Francisco, CA; and two great grandchildren, Peter and Adelaide Coakley of Portland, OR.The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at Sauls Funeral Home, 90 Simmonsville Rd., Bluffton, SC at 11:00 am, Saturday, November 3, 2007. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 til 8 pm on Friday, November 2, 2007. Interment will be at a later date in the Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, SC.In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial gifts be made to: the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058 or the Alzheimers Association, Research Foundation, 919 North Michigan Ave., Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60611-1676.Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton, SC is assisting the family with their arrangements. (www.saulsfh.com)