Ray Doyle Coats, Jr., 72, passed away Monday, April 20, 2015, in West Plains.
He was born April 8, 1943, in Bucyrus, son of Ray Doyle and Helen Shaffer Coats.
He grew up in the Bucyrus area, attending the Plum Valley School and then Houston High School.
He was a member of IBEW Local #53. Working as a lineman on electrical lines, he was sent by the union to sites in the states of Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Kentucky and Colorado.
He was an outdoorsman. He loved fishing, camping, and hunting. In his younger days he loved playing baseball. He was a gardener and carpenter, building cabinets or other pieces of furniture for family and friends.
He enjoyed fish fries, holidays and other special events with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Carollene of West Plains; two sons, Tom Coats and Tony Coats of West Plains; a stepdaughter, Lorette’ Smith of Houston; seven grandchildren; a step-granddaughter; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, John Henry Coats; three sisters, Milly McKinney, Edith Colborn and Betty Neal; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Services are 11 a.m. Friday, April 24, at Evans Funeral home with Pastor Delbert Gayer officiating. Visitation is 10 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be in Union Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Ray Coats Memorial Fund c/o Evans Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.evansfh.com.
