Services for Gerald “Michael” Luckey Jr., 45, of Brownwood will be held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, August 4, 2016 at First Baptist Church Brownwood, burial will follow at Eastlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Heartland Funeral Home.
Michael, “Coach Luckey” passed away Saturday, July 30, 2016 in Brownwood surrounded by family & friends, after a courageous battle with health problems.
Michael was born on May 25, 1971 in Fort Myers, Florida to Gerald M. and the late Marty K. Luckey. He graduated from Bangs High School in 1989. He went on to graduate from Howard Payne University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Sports Science. While attending Howard Payne University he also worked as a manager and student assistant for Coach Patillo with the men’s basketball team. HPU Yellow Jackets were the Conference Champs in 1996 and 1997. Both of these years the team also played in the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship in Nampa, Idaho.Michael worked with TDCJ- Juvenile Division in Brownwood, Rockdale and Levelland. He was fair and consistent with his kids there. He along with Jackie Galloway put together a great group of kids that were allowed to participate in track events and basketball. They traveled to numerous track meets and games throughout the area. Coach Luckey began his public school coaching career in July of 2004 in Brownwood under Coach Steve Freeman. During his tenure there he was able to coach not only football, but basketball, track and weight training.
He went on to coach at May as a head baseball coach, which was truly a passion for him. Most recently he was at Lohn ISD as head football coach, as well as head girls basketball coach. His heart truly bleeds maroon, with a little green sprinkled in. He also served as a director for the Texas Six Man Coaches Association.
During his teenage years Michael spent many summers at Chandler, Oklahoma baseball camp. He spent weeks there forming relationships, developing umpiring, running, batting and all the basic skills that built the foundation for the Coach he was to become. Those skills were molded throughout his coaching years as a baseball coach for many summer leagues teams as well as many teams he played for. Whether it was men’s softball or women’s/girls’ softball, boy’s baseball, and select teams. He coached little league basketball, and was instrumental in rekindling the PIPs basketball program. He also refereed football and basketball under the Pecan Valley chapter as well as baseball under the Heartland chapter. Coach Luckey had the unique ability to see deep inside what ability every student athlete and friend was capable of and always demanded and worked to help them work to attain that level, nothing short of their best.
He met the love of his life Jeanni, and proposed to her in the stands before a Brownwood Lion game. They were married soon after at First Baptist Church in Brownwood on November 8, 2008.
Michael was a believer, having been baptized at First Baptist Church in Bangs, Texas, not long after the passing of his mother. His light illuminated all those around him. He loved his family with a passion. He loved and cared for his friends with the same caring and giving heart that he had for his family.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Jeanni Luckey of Brownwood, and daughter Nicole Hamlett of Round Rock and husband Will; daughter Morgan Wright of Brownwood and fiancé Jeff Davis; his father Gerald M. Luckey, Sr. of Piedmont, Alabama; sisters, Mona Pitts of Brownwood and husband Charles; Lisa Luckey of Citra, FL. Mother-in-law Jean Cox of Brownwood, Sister-in-law Kelli Lenzi of Brownwood and husband David; brother-in-law Allen Cox of Mercury. Nieces and nephews, JC Pitts and fiancé Taylor Penn of Brownwood; Byron S. Luckey, Alexis Luckey, James and Keesha Gillespie of Ocala, FL, Jake and Kadie Cox of Blanket; Tanner Cox of Star; Josh Cox of Brownwood; and Joey Lenzi of Brownwood, and Uncle Robin Wiltshire of Fort Myers FL. There are also many uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends left behind. He was preceded in death by his mother, Marty K. Luckey, grandparents Russel and Winifred Luckey, Dick and Ruby Wiltshire, uncle Richard Wiltshire and an aunt, Linda Sadler.
Memorials may be made to Hope for the Heart P.O. Box 1207 Brady, TX 76825 or your favorite charity.
Condolences, memories and tributes can be offered to the family at heartlandfuneralhome.net.
