Following the death of David Allan Coe on Wednesday, April 29, members of his family have begun speaking publicly about their strained relationship with the outlaw country icon.
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Coe died at the age of 86 in an intensive care unit, his widow Kimberly Coe confirmed to Rolling Stone.
In the days since, his daughter Tanya has shared emotional details about their distance, including that she did not get the chance to say goodbye.
David Allan Coe's Daughter Reveals the Pain of a Final Goodbye Missed
Tanya claims she has not heard from her stepmother, according to PEOPLE, and says she learned of her father's death through public reports.
"Waking up to the news that your dad has died and not being given the opportunity to see him one last time is a hell I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy," she wrote in a social media post.
"If anyone finds out about any funeral arrangements, please let me know as I would like to be at my dad's funeral."
She later spoke to Entertainment Weekly, offering further insight into their limited contact in recent years.
"The last time I 'spoke' with him was when I was texting with him when he was in the hospital after the car accident," she said. "But I don't know if I was actually talking to him or if it was someone else pretending to be him from his phone."
Tanya was referring to a 2013 crash in Florida, when Coe ran a red light at 1:30 AM and a semi-truck struck his vehicle.
Rescue crews spent nearly two hours freeing him from the wreckage. He suffered broken ribs, had bruised kidneys, and required 48 stitches to his head.
Family Describes Distance and Limited Contact in Final Years
Tanya also alleges that she and her siblings did not have "access to him" in recent years, claiming their father kept his distance.
"My sister Carla and I finally tracked down an address for him and performed two wellness checks on him in the last year and a half," she added.
"All of us children loved and will continue to love our dad more than this dimension can contain. I know he loved us and was proud of us."
Coe's former manager, Ken Madson, told Entertainment Weekly that he also lost contact with the singer and remains unaware of any funeral arrangements.
"It's unlikely I will be informed," he said.
Born in 1939, Coe built his reputation busking in Nashville before rising to prominence in the 1970s outlaw country movement.
Across his career, he released 42 studio albums and more than 50 singles, leaving behind a lasting legacy in country music.
