In Limestone County, the county coroner is hereby authorized to appoint a deputy coroner who shall have the same responsibilities as the coroner when the coroner is absent or in some way incapacitated. If the county coroner should for any reason vacate the office, the deputy coroner shall serve until a successor is appointed or elected. The deputy coroner is authorized to receive a salary of seventy-five dollars ($75) a month to be paid out of the general fund of the county in the same manner as other elected or appointed officials are paid.