Kyle "Coach" Black

Kyle “Coach” Black age 74, of Amarillo died Saturday, October 29, 2022 in Amarillo.

Visitation will be held from 3-5:00 p.m., Sunday, November 6, 2022 at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m., Monday, November 7, 2022 at Trinity Baptist Church, 1601 W. I40. Private interment will be held in Groom Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home.

Kenneth Kyle Black was born on September 21, 1948 in Groom, Texas to his parents Kenneth Foster Black and Phyllis Nadine Keahey Black.  He graduated from Groom High School in 1967 and went on to earn his master’s degree from West Texas State University.

In 1971 after graduating college, Coach Kyle Black began his teaching and coaching career at Bowie Junior High.  He loved this work and it was there over the course of the next 31 years that he touched the lives of thousands of students and athletes.  Coach Black had a special gift to connect with the students that needed a mentor; someone that was present in their lives on a consistent basis and believed in them.  His persistence made this connection even stronger because he nurtured and continued these relationships made with his students long into adulthood.   Coach Black took pride in his “kids” and was absolutely overjoyed to witness their successes.   Anywhere he went around town he would always run into a former student who would affectionately call out, “Hey Coach!”

Coach Black is also affectionately known as “G-Dad” to each of his eight grandkids.  He embraced the grandfather role completely and was present at virtually every activity or event his grandchildren were involved in.  He loved having holiday gatherings with the grandkids and was always ready to share a story about one of them with anyone who would listen.

Family, family history, and connection were important to him.  Researching his family origins and history was a passion of his.  The family genealogy and life stories were all well documented by him and he considered himself to be the official family historian.  His family was important to him and he was persistent in encouraging everyone to gather together and stay connected.  His persistence although at times could feel bothersome to others, helped to encourage the family to get together and stay together.  His persistence and reliability is what endeared him to so many.

Kyle never forgot where he came from and stayed connected to the community of Groom.  Groom was a place that Kyle held near and dear to his heart.  He attended every celebration and event that he could.  He remained lifelong friends with his Groom High School 1967 class mates.  Through his involvement and “persistence” he recently helped to get  a flag pole installed in the Groom Cemetery.

Kyle has many lifelong friendships.  Many memories have been made on the countless hunting and fishing trips.  The stories these men can tell could go on and on for days.  A few of these stories may even be true.

His family, friends, and students knew Kyle had a routine and they knew that routine included dropping by and just checking on them.  Friends that had few others to rely on could rely on Kyle.  He invested himself in his relationships, whether they were with family, friends or students and he knew persistence was key.  Showing up no matter what was what he did!  His presence will be greatly missed by his children, grandchildren, family, friends, and countless others.

Kyle was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his son Kit Black and his wife Cyle; by his daughter Maile Srader and her husband Jeremy; two sisters, Doyla Black Bell and Connie Fulton all of Amarillo; two brothers, Keith Black and his wife Debbie of Pampa and Kris Black and his wife Gay of Crawford, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, Foster, Laney, Maggie, Terrance, James, Adam, Lydia and Hannah; his companion, Glenda Roberts of Amarillo; and a host of others whose lives were touched by Coach Black.

The family suggests that memorials be made to the Groom Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 177. Groom, Texas 79039 in memory of Kyle “Coach” Black.