He was a devoted Christian and a parishioner at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church.
He was a loving husband and father and raised three sons.
He grew up on Mobile Bay and loved the water, sailing, was a deep sea diver and loved to travel.
He was a graduate of Auburn University.
He was a mechanical engineer, a conscientious, hard worker formerly employed by Rust Engineering and Bowater.
He was a retired veteran of World War II and Korea, who served in the U.S. Navy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John G. Coats, Jr. and Frances Baumhauer Coats; and grandson, John G. Coats V.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Lynne M. Coats of Cleveland; three children: Dr. W. Grayson Neve and wife, Jimmie Jean, of Cleveland, John G. Coats IV of Littleton, Colo., and David L. Coats and wife, Jennifer of Wilkesboro, N.C.; grandchildren: Will Neve and wife, Andrea, Tricia Lynne Hartley and husband, Jason, Michael Coats, Gloria Coats, Joy Coats and John G. Coats VI; great-grandchildren: Sara Neve and Owen Neve; sister, Suzanne Drew of Mobile, Ala.; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church with Father Joel Huffstetler officiating.
Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday in the parish hall at the church.
We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Coats family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.
