Keith L. “Butch” Coats, 68, son of Herschel and Fern Crawford Coats, was born April 23, 1939, in the Lundy community. He died Nov. 28, 2007, at Houston.
He grew up at Hightown and graduated from Houston High School in 1957.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1961-’63 stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. He enjoyed touring Europe and personally observed President John F. Kennedy on a visit.
Mr. Coats was a journeyman electrician with Local 453 for more than 40 years.
He enjoyed working on his farms and driving through the pastures admiring his cattle; and planning, building and spending time at his home at Dawt Mill on Bryant Creek.
He was a charter member of the Clara Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his father and one brother, Donald.
Surviving are his mother of Houston; two sons, Shane and Lance of St. Louis; two daughters, Cameron of Houston and Christy of Mountain Grove; two brothers, Bob of Mount Vernon, Ill., and Kenny of Kirkwood; one sister, Carole Hoover of Conway, Ark.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services were Dec. 1 at the Bucyrus Baptist Church with Paul Murray and the Rev. Wesley Wallace officiating. Burial was in the Wolford Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Community Hospice of Mountain Grove, American Cancer Society, Clara Baptist Church or Wolford Cemetery.
