Dorcas Ayodele Thomas-Coker

Dorcas Ayodele Thomas-Coker, 75, of Lafayette, passed away on March 4, 2026. Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to Emeric and Phebean Thomas, she attended the Annie Walsh Memorial School before earning a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University.

Dorcas built a dedicated career at Siemens and later at Purdue University, where she worked until her retirement. A longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, she found joy in traveling, cooking, and bowling, pursuits that reflected her vibrant spirit and love for bringing people together.

She is survived by her husband, Frederic Coker, of Lafayette; her sons and grandchildren; her sisters; her brother-in-law, Arthur Coker; and many relatives from the Thomas, Thorpe, Eke, Vann, Hartley, Gbetuwa, Macauley, Coulson, During, Forster, Williams, and Baldwin families, including Rev. Leonora Walterson-Davies. She also leaves behind dear friends from the Tolen and Schneidau families.