Coach Gary Anthony Hamilton

Funeral services for Gary Anthony Hamilton “Coach Hamilton”, 77, of Troup will be held at 2:00pm on January 16, 2025, at The Gospel Barn at 22160 Hwy 110, Troup, Texas with Pastor Steven Oakes officiating. The Visitation will be held prior to the funeral starting at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Concord Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Cottle Funeral Home, Troup.

Coach Hamilton passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025.  He was born on February 24, 1947, in Jacksonville, Texas to the late John Alfred Hamilton and Susan Ruth Hall Hamilton

Gary graduated from Carlisle High School in 1965.   He always loved and participated in sports, especially basketball.

He attended Kilgore Junior College where he played college basketball.  He graduated East Texas State University in May 1970, now known as Texas A&M Commerce.  He began his teaching career in Union Grove before becoming a Troup Tiger for the 1972-1973 school year.   He continued to serve Troup ISD until his retirement in 2006.   Coach Hamilton taught at the high school, the middle school and the alternative school.  He served as one of the coaches for the 1973-1974 State Championship Football Team.  He also coached golf. Coach Hamilton drove the school bus for Troup ISD for 26 years every morning and every afternoon. If he went missing during the school day, Ava would find him sitting down at the Hilltop Country Club where he was a member.    He was named as a Lifetime Achievement recipient by Troup ISD for his dedication on May 5, 2022.

Gary married Linda on January 4, 1990.  They have been married now for 35 years. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, John Alfred Hamilton and Susan Ruth Hall Hamilton, 5 brothers: Murl Ray Hamilton, Harry Hamilton, Joe Hamilton, Fred Hamilton, Sam Hamilton and sister Nelda Brady, and daughter Marcy Hamilton, stepdaughter Tammy Williams and grandson Kristopher Williams.

Survivors include his wife Linda Hamilton of Tyler; daughter Mandy Zehren and husband Jay Zehren of Bullard; son Rusty Hamilton of Troup; grandson Ashton Zehren of Bullard; stepson Mitchell Harris and wife Robbie; brothers Jess Hamilton and wife Jerry of Jacksonville, Mel Hamilton and wife Patricia of Texarkana, and brother-in-law Mervyn Brady of Henderson; also, numerous nieces and nephews, other family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Greg Hamilton, Mike Hamilton, Brian Hamilton, Chipper Huggins, Scott Stovall and Jeff Hale.

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