Coey Zapalac

Coey Danette (Gilmore) Zapalac, 51, died on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at her home in Smithville, Texas surrounded by her loving family.

Coey was born in La Marque, Texas on April 29, 1970 to Mickey Gilmore and Suzanne Carter Gilmore. Their family traveled the country with Mickey’s work and eventually settled in Smithville, Texas. Coey graduated from Smithville High School in 1988. She married Steve Zapalac, Jr. on October 27, 2000. She was one of the finest people to walk the earth. If you knew her, you loved her. If you didn’t know her, you missed out because there will never be another one like her. God broke the mold when He made Coey. She was the life of the party. If she couldn’t put a smile on your face, no one could. Coey loved everyone and she loved hard. If you knew her, you knew how much she loved you because she made a point to tell you. Coey never met a stranger. She could strike-up conversations with anyone, anywhere…and she did…all the time! Although Coey loved everyone she knew, nothing compared to the love she has for her children: Blakelee, Lane and Kennedi. When speaking of her children, Coey always ended the conversation with “they are my everything”.

Once diagnosed with cancer in April 2012, Coey became a true warrior. She faced her cancer diagnosis with grace, strength and prayer. Coey’s positive attitude and the dedicated medical care provided to her by Dr. Charles Levenback and Kimberly Burns, FNP at UTMD Anderson Cancer Center allowed Coey to far exceed her life expectancy after the devastating cancer diagnosis. Coey didn’t let her prognosis define her. She fully trusted in the Lord and had unwavering faith that she would be granted more time to spend with her family and friends.

Coey is preceded in death by her Daddy, Mickey Gilmore; her grandparents Lloyd & Virginia Gilmore and William & Nancy Carter; Uncle Joe Cooper, mother-in-law Sharon Zapalac and niece Victoria Zapalac.

Coey is survived by her husband, Steve Zapalac, Jr., her children, Blakelee Saunders Bledsoe and husband Kegan; Lane Terrell Saunders, Kennedi Sloan Zapalac, and Kristin Zapalac Miles and husband Dillin; mother, Suzanne Carter Gilmore; sister and brother-in-law, Kari & Charlie Sneed; sister, Niki Gilmore; father-in-law Steve Zapalac Sr., brothers-in-law Shawn Zapalac and Shannon Zapalac; grandsons, Knox Bledsoe, Braylin and Caenin Miles; plus many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Brec Earp, Brent Kovar, Collin Cooper, Denton Cooper, Kegan Bledsoe, Reagan Kunz, Shawn Zapalac & Zachary Kirby

Visitation will be Wednesday, September 29, from 5:00pm-8:00pm at Marrs-Jones Funeral Home in Smithville, TX. Funeral services will be Thursday, September 30, at 10:00am at St. Paul Catholic Church in Smithville, TX followed by interment at Oak Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UTMD Anderson Cancer Center or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of Coey Gilmore Zapalac.