Elly Coates

Services for Elly Webster Coates, 86 of Columbia will be held 10am Saturday, January 31, 2009 from the chapel of Riser Funeral Home with Bro. Maxwell Bennett and Bro. Bob Mcilwain officiating.. Interment will follow in the Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson. Visitation will be Friday from 5 pm until 9 pm at Riser Funeral Home in Columbia. Mr.Coates was born April 26, 1922 to the union of Henry and Emma Kelly Coates and died Janurary 29, 2009 at the Haven Nursing Center following an extended illness. He was preceded in death by his parents , his sisters: Elvia Coates(baby sister) and Leola Coates Williams and husband: Clyde Williams; his brothers, Russell Coates and Elby M. Coates; and a grandson in law: Bryan K. Baum. Elly was a member of the First Church of God in Columbia.He attended Ward 5 School in Caldwell Parish and graduated from mechanic school in West Monroe. Before entering service he worked for Chandler Young at the Dodge and Plymouth Company and then at the Ice House owned by the Cummings family. Elly served in the U.S. Army in World II. He was with the 101st Anti-aircraft Battalion on the Galapagos Islands, the Philippines, and Panama Canal. He was awarded the American Theater Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 bronze star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Distinguished Unit Badge, and WW II Victory Medal. In 1945, Elly met and married Lorene Johnston from Winn Parish. They made their home in Caldwell Parish. After the war, he worked at the Western Auto Store for several years and then later at McIlwain Motor Company. He later joined Houston Contracting Company and Pipelining and worked for over twenty years before retiring and returning to Columbia and opening his own mechanic shop and extreme high quality Mercury-Lincoln used car dealership. He worked there until the age of 82. Elly and his wife Lorene had the privilege of traveling and seeing all parts of the United States from coast to coast. Along the way many friendships were formed and never forgotten thru the years. Elly never met a stranger and loved to stop and visit with his many friends and customers in his later years. His work ethics were amazing, sometimes working 14-15 hour days. Solving mechanical problems with a vehicle was considered a challenge and accomplishment. Nothing was too complicated to solve. He was called upon for his advice and expertise from people all around the country. His honesty and workmanship was known by all his friends and customers. In 2003 Elly was diagnosed with myelofibrosis and given only months to live. He faced many other health issues and fought them vigorously until this past year, but managed to live beyond his doctors expectations. He never complained and always had a positive attitude. Dr. Scott Baron, Oncologist, Dr.Ronald Koepke,Cardiologist,Northeast La. Kidney Specialists, Dr. Michael Archie and Dr.Michael Hand, Haven Nursing Center Staff and Haven Rehabilitation Center, Dr. Pankaj Schroff, and Hospice Care of Louisiana,Inc. and John Wilson, V.A. Medical Center,Alexandria. These caregivers are to be commended for the wonderful care, love and compassion that were given to our loved one. Mr. Coates adored his wife, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, their spouses, and great grandchildren immensely. His great love for all his family will live in our hearts and minds forever. Survivors include his loving wife of 63 years: Lorene Johnston Coates of Columbia, his daughter: Janette Coates Stuart and her husband: James of Columbia, his grandchildren: Cheryl Minninger and her husband: Richard of Grayson and James R. Stuart and his wife: Monica of Columbia, and his great-grandchildren: Stuart Baum, Zachary Baum, Spencer Baum, all of Grayson, Dallas Stuart and Reece Stuart of Columbia, his brothers, Elvis Coates of Columbia and Norman Coates and his wife: Bobbie of Clarks, his sisters-in-law: Sherry Coates and Glenda Coates both of Columbia and numerous nieces and nephews. Serving as pallbearers will be Scott Meredith, Elgin McFadden, Phillip Wilkins, Jerry Meredith, Randy Hatten, Garland Grant, Dr. E.D. Coates, and Terry Johnston. Honorary pallbearers include Willis Tatum, Everett Haddox, Billy Johnston, Lloyd Johnston, Richard Minninger, Ray McMullen, Joe Tyler, and Bo Crain. Any planned memorials may be made to First Church of God in Columbia, Caldwell Parish Library or a charity of ones choice. Online condolences may be sent at riserfuneralhomes.com