David A. Coiley
David A. Coiley of Nassau Bay, Texas passed away suddenly at age 70 on March 27, 2023. David is survived by his wife Monica (Flores) Coiley; son Andrew Coiley of South Shields, England; sisters, Susan Fox of Poole Dorset, England and Siobhan Dufall of Concord, CA; grandchildren, Elise Claire and Fynn David Coiley of South Shields, England; and numerous family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Teresa Joyce Coiley and Anthony Leonard Coiley and daughter Claire Coiley.
David was born at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington, London, England on November 4, 1952. The family moved from London to Leigh on Sea Essex along the Thames Estuary when David was 10. He attended Westcliff High School for Boys, where he was a great favorite of the headmaster, and he excelled at sports by playing on both the rugby and athletics teams.
His love of the sea started by joining the Sea Cadets and the local sailing club. He left school at 16 to join the Merchant Navy. While traveling the world by ship, David earned a Master Mariner Class 1 focused in Nautical Science from South Shields Marine & Technical and attained prompt promotion as he sailed with the Bank Line before joining Stolt-Neilson. After achieving the rank of Sea Captain, Stolt-Neilson moved him to settle in Houston, TX where he eventually met his wife, Monica. While working as operations manager in logistics and supply chain at the Port of Houston, David became a proud US Citizen, die hard Texan Outdoorsman, and mentor to many in the shipping industry. David joined St. Mary’s of the Expectation Knights of Columbus 9310 in League City with intention to visit the Veterans at the VA Hospital in Houston. Over the years, he started leading the group of brothers that brought Jesus to the Veterans, and enjoyed serving in many other ways, including Friday night fish fry preparations. David had a lifelong passion for books, was a devout Tottenham Hot Spurs fan, enjoyed his time on the ranch, shared adoration with his dogs, Molly and John Cy, and truly loved hunting in the Texas Hill Country. David was someone you could always rely on to be there for you, no matter what. As of late playing chauffeur to middle schoolers and supporting his neighbors without complaint. He liked to show a tough exterior but he had a giant heart of gold, and a gentle side best demonstrated with his wife, Monica, and in later days with the younger members of his chosen family. David had a great and unique sense of humor, and liked to tease just like his father (and he loved to be teased right back)! A truly devoted and loving husband to his wife, Monica; a loving and true brother to Sue and Siobhan; and a friend and confidant to many… David will be dearly missed.
On Monday, April 3, 2023 a Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm with a Vigil Service at 7:00 pm at Crowder Funeral Home, 1645 E. Main St., League City 77573. The Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 10:00 am at St Mary of the Expectation Catholic Church, 1612 E. Walker, League City, TX 77573. The Burial will follow at Seabrook Cemetery.
Captain Coiley – so many thoughts going through my mind of our time together. You were firm but fair with a side that not many knew of – I’m referring to a Heart of Gold buried inside. A man of the ages with intelligence and knowledge of so many things well beyond the job. Like it was yesterday I can remember sitting in your office and listening to stories of things and places that I will never see! Then came one of the best conversations of all – you met Monica and the joy she brought to your life – probably the reason for the smile I see on you in this picture! You were as happy as I have ever seen you and I thank the Lord you found that Special Someone in your life!
May you Rest in Peace Sir until we meet again!
Bill
My condolences to you Monica, you had a wonderful love together. May he always shine in you 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️❤️❤️.
RIP Captain Coiley!🙏
We have lost a great man. I was always proud to call David my friend.
Monica my heart breaks for you. David will be missed by many.
Blessings
Elizabeth
Sending big hugs to Monica, David’s family, and the Redmonds. What a wonderful person David was. He will be truly missed.
A Farewell Letter to David. An officer and a gentleman.
Dear David. I am writing this on behalf of your family in the U.K. who are unable to
attend your funeral and your final journey to be laid to rest by the sea due to expeditious arrangements of the funeral.
It was such a shock to hear of your passing. You will be greatly missed by both your sisters Sue and Siobhan and nephew Dominic, niece Jessica, great nieces Kaya, Eva, Willow and great nephew Atticus and your aunt and uncle Sheila and Peter.
You will be remembered for your big bear hugs, your laughter and teasing but most of all for your large heart. Always there for everyone.
I have spent the past few days looking at photos us growing up as children and reliving various memories.
You used to love playing Cowboys and Indians with your toy gun and rifle. Who would have known then that your dream came true when you moved to Texas and had a real gun and rifle of your own. Your favourite book as a child was The Wild West!!
We like to think of you being reunited with our parents Tony and Joyce and your daughter Claire.
P.S. I hope there are plenty of oranges for you. X
David passing will leave a massive crater in so many hearts/lives, Monica and David were like bookends they supported everything/everyone in between. David you will be missed for your great stories and dry sense of humour. Always in our memories
David was a great man, friend and Godfather.
The first time we met I was only about 4 years old and almost 40 years later, I consider David my family. Always there with advice, disliking boyfriends, celebrating promotions, marriage and children. He was always there for me and my family. The best at winding up and favorite for them to play board games with. He gave honest and sage advice. He loved and was loved.
To see David and Monica together was to see a beautiful couple who adored one another and respected one another. A wonderful couple who we are honored to have as part of our chosen family.
We had so many great times together celebrating with this great man who helped countless people for no personal gain or recognition.
We all will miss David so so much!
David was a great man, friend and Godfather.
The first time we met I was about 4 years old and I was honored to have David and Monica as part of our chosen family. He could always make people lauugh from young to old. Always there with advice, disliking boyfriends, celebrating promotions, marriage and children. He was always there for me and my family. The best at winding up and favorite for them to play board games with. He gave honest and sage advice. He loved and was loved.
To see David and Monica together was to see a beautiful couple who adored one another and respected one another.
We had so many great times together celebrating and we will all miss this great man who helped countless people for no personal gain or recognition.
All our love!
My old friend of forty five years is no more, having met at South Shields Marine Technical College as wild young men having already spent some time at sea, we generated some great memories together, which continued through the years.
As well as my wife Kathy who also had a soft spot for Dave we spent time together and enjoyed each others company with Dave always the gentleman as Kathy woul say.
Dave will be sorely missed by all concerned as had many good friends in his camp.
The GRUNERT family wishes him to rest in peace until we meet again.
Farewell my friend.
David was a great colleague and very good friend who, sadly, left us much too soon. I am proud to have known and worked with David for 35 years at Stolt-Nielsen.
Fondly, I remember when David and I received our watches for 25 years of service at Stolt-Nielsen together, the watch band was not big enough to fit around his large, bear of a wrist. David was a big guy with a big heart. He will be missed by all.
My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to Monica, the Coiley family, and all of the friends who will miss him….and there are many….
Rest in Peace David, my dear friend.
Yours sincerely,
Gary and Elissa Kolackovsky
“We’re built to cruise for but a while upon this trackless sea, until one day we sail away into eternity.” (John T. Baker)
Hey Unk
I’m struggling to comprehend that you’ve gone. Life is too short and you were taken from us too soon.
It has been so long since I saw you in person and I had hoped that with my life being more settled recently that I’d be able to come out and see you and Auntie Siobhan in the next couple of years.
I was looking forward to you meeting my children in person and getting to know them. I think they have a similar relationship to you and mummy! Willow as the big sister always takes the ‘bigger half’ and Atticus is like you with his quick wit and generous nature.
I had always hoped, as the only guns in the family, that at some point we would have a chance to go shooting together.
I have fond memories of drinking and chatting until the early hours, listening to your stories from the ships and the time I tried to stop you smoking by putting your cigarette out in your beer!! Sorry not sorry!
It is so sad that none of us can make it out in time for your funeral and to see you off on your final journey.
Bon voyage, Unk… may you have fair winds and following seas!
Your ‘neese’, Jessica
Xxx
Dearest Monica – I am so very sorry to learn of this. David was truly a jovial and kind soul. I am shocked beyond words. I am praying for you and your family in this time of grief and sorrow.
Love always,
Les Howard
I am writing this with a broken heart. David was the best boss anyone could ever have. A lot of people did not know the beautiful heart he had underneath his coat of steel. We had many conversations about family. He was truly in love with his adoring wife Monica. David was a very compassionate person and truly hurt when he knew you were hurting. I was devastated when they moved him away from my department but kept in touch with him while we both still worked. After his retirement he continued to reach out to me through e-cards at the holidays. David RIP and rejoice when we all meet again. Monica, my condolences to you and all family members. I will always remember the kindness he showed me when I lost my Mother. He truly had a giant and pure heart. I love you David and will truly miss you.
Monica my heart goes out to you and the whole entire family. God bless each and every one. David will surely be missed by many. May David rest in God’s arms.
Love you,
Anne
I worked with Dave on the tankers side from 94 till I left in 06. He was a wealth of knowledge and always had Stolt’s best interests at heart. I’ll never forget the first time I spoke with him on the phone as a new Ship Operator in Greenwich. If I did not know the subject matter we were discussing, I would have barely understood a word he was saying….with his wonderfully thick British accent!! Rest in peace my friend….
Dear David
Geography and work meant our face to face meetings as adults were limited but when we did meet at family occasions in the UK it reminded us of how much fun you were and how warm hearted. I remember you being born and saw you often during your childhood in London. We miss you being with with us.
Our condolences to all who knew you.
with much love
Aunty Sheila and Uncle Peter xx
David, I will surely miss you. Thanks for being a friend
Rest in Heaven
All of the above compliments of David are true. He was a customer of mine, and I always enjoyed my dealings with him. He was intelligent and always had Stolt’s best interests in his actions. If he had a problem, he never hesitated to reach out, but he was very fair and even handed, always looking for a solution that was best for all parties. He had a big heart and a great sense of humor. He was a very good man, and I will miss him.
Marc Bickham