Stephen Philo Coco

Stephen P. Coco, of Jennings, Louisiana, passed peacefully at age 83 at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home. Steve was born on April 22, 1930 to Nell and Philo Coco in Marksville, Louisiana. He attended George Military Academy in Atlanta. He studied at Washington and Lee University, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts and his first year of law school. He finished his law degree at Louisiana State University, earning his JD in 1953. In 1954 he married Fay Moreland of Baton Rouge. They settled in Shreveport, where Steve served in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps at Barksdale Air Force base. In 1956, Steve moved to Jennings, and opened a law practice, handling criminal and civil cases. He retired in 1992, and would reflect some years later that talking to people and helping them with their problems was what he enjoyed most about practicing law. Steves desire to help people led to his strong engagement in civic affairs. He sat on the Zigler Foundation board, served as president of the Jeff Davis Parish Bar Association, and volunteered as a scoutmaster. The Rotary Club scholarship was established during his presidency. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church serving as a deacon, elder and Sunday school teacher. Steve leaves behind a devoted wife and five children: Stuart Coco of Houston, Cindy Coco of Baton Rouge, Clay Coco of League City, Texas, Ann Coco of Decatur, Georgia, and Jean Coco of Charlotte, North Carolina; eight grandchildren, two sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and two sisters: Ann Coco of Baton Rouge, and Sally Smith of Sugarland, Texas. He leaves a legacy of living a life of integrity and a belief in respecting all races and religions. The Coco family appreciates the care provided by Dr. Charles Ray, and the entire staff at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 11, at 11 a.m. at Miguez Funeral Home, 114 E. Shankland Avenue in Jennings. Visitation hours at Miguez are from 5 ” 8 PM on Friday, January 10. Memorial donations may be made to the Nature Conservancy at www.nature.org or Heifer International at www.heifer.org.