State labor, Elks leader Danny Coyle dies

Longtime Nevada labor leader Danny Coyle died of cancer in Carson City early Saturday morning. He was 74.

A past president of AFSCME Local 4041/AFL-CIO, Coyle also was Nevada North District Deputy of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and served as the organization's president in 1983-84. At the time of his death he was president of the retiree chapter of the
AFSCME Local 4041/AFL-CIO, an organization he founded.

He worked for the state of Nevada for more than 31 years, retiring as a senior right-of-way agent for the Nevada Department of Transportation in 1995. In retirement, he was a volunteer labor lobbyist at the Legislature. Earlier this year, he received a legislative proclamation for community service.

The State of Nevada Employees Association also honored him with the Jerry Cianci Award for his lifetime contribution to the organization.

Born in Butte, Mont., on May 10, 1936, he married Verna Mathisen there in 1955 and joined the U.S. Army the same year. After serving as an intelligence officer, he attended Evangel College in Springfield, Mo., and the University of Montana.

He is survived by two sons, Dennis (Sandy) of Carson City and Danny (Denise) of Dayton, and a daughter, Hylari Roth (Al) of Dayton; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are being handled by Fitzhenry's, 3945 Fairview Drive in Carson City, where a memorial service will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City.