John C. Coats

John C. Coats, 84, of Poplar Bluff, died May 25, 2006 at the Cedargate Nursing Home. Mr. Coats was born June 1, 1921 in Rector, Ark. to the late Lige and Hazel (Frets) Coats and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was a retired salesman for 25 years for Krey Packing Company in St. Louis. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf and during college played football for Southwest University. Mr. Coats was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II in the 15th division and flew 35 missions over Europe.

On June 19, 1944 he was married to Fernita A. Holcomb in El Paso, TX and she survives.

Also surviving are 3 daughters, Susan Coats and husband Philip Barenz of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Joyce Whitworth of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Johnna Coats and husband Richard Garman of Belvedere, CA; and one son Phillip Coats and wife Christine Jensen of San Francisco, CA; 2 grandchildren, John Ryan Whitworth of St. Augustine, FL; Anna Garman of Belvedere, CA ; one sister Geraldine Runft of Springville, TN; a niece Sunnye McKeel of Springville, TN and a nephew, Michael John Daley of Cincinnati, OH.

Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Kurt Schuermann officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday in the Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector, Ark.