Memorial ride in Forward Township honors fellow biker and friend
FORWARD TWP — There are still pieces of the exhaust from Tyler Coon’s motorcycle on Mars-Evans City Road near the entrance of the Dollar General.
A wooden cross surrounded by yellow flowers mark the site where the 29-year-old man died in a motorcycle crash Sunday, April 28. In the center of the cross hangs a memorial sign that states “In Loving Memory — Tyler Coon — Riding With Angels.”
“He was my best friend,” said John Briere. “We were like brothers.”
More than 40 motorcyclists gathered to celebrate and honor Coon’s life and raise awareness about motorcycle safety on Friday, May 2. The memorial ride included friends of Coon’s as well as bikers who wanted to pay tribute to a fellow a rider.
Bob Haffly, of Valencia, one of the organizers of the event, said the ride was a way for the motorcycle community to show their love for Coon and spread a message.
“The whole purpose behind this entire event was one to show support for the family in their time of grief,” Haffly said. “And to also send a message that we need people to pay better attention when they’re on the road.”
Despite the forecast calling for rain, bikers from all across area were in attendance. While many of the riders knew Coon, others like Bob Doverspike and wife Sally, of Mars, wanted to be there for a fellow community member and rider.
“We’re here to provide support for a person that unfortunately died unexpectedly,” Doverspike said.
Several motorcycle groups, such as the Sons of God Motorcycle Club were in attendance to mourn their fellow rider.
“Anytime there’s a tragedy like this, we like to be there for them,” said Hush, a member of the Sons of God club. “We’re a family.”
The group met in Mars and made several stops on their memorial ride, including driving past the funeral home where services were being held for Coon.
“When we go by (the funeral home),” Haffly said before the group took off. “I want us to be so loud that Tyler can hear us and tells us to ‘shut up.”
During their ride the procession was greeted by mourners, who stood near the road as the sound of 40 motorcycles revved their engines in salute to the fallen rider.
Several close friends of Coon stopped at the site of the crash to pay their respect.
Nick Goddard who has been a long time riding partner of Coon said he was moved by the amount of people that participated in the memorial ride.
“That’s what this community is all about,” Goddard said. “Just because he passed doesn’t mean no one’s there for him. We’re here for him.”
“He’ll be missed,” he said.
