Obituary of Norman Coates

Funeral services for Mr. Norman Dyke Coates, age 85 of Columbia, will be held at 11 AM Tuesday, April 13, 2010 from the chapel of Riser Funeral Home in Columbia with Rev. Stuart Sherman officiating and Rachel Denison delivering the eulogy. Interment will follow at Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson. Visitation will be Monday, April 12, 2010 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the chapel of Riser Funeral Home in Columbia. Mr. Coates was born in Clarks on September 29, 1924 to the union of Archie Jackson and Flora Gregory Coates and passed from this life on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at Franklin Parish Medical Center in Winnsboro. Norman was a veteran having served in the army during WWII and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Columbia. He retired with the State of LA Department of Revenue after ten years and he owned and operated Columbia Cleaners for 20 years. He enjoyed the outdoors whether it was playing golf, hunting or fishing. He was preceded in death by his parents, son; Norman Coates, Jr., two sisters: Edith Coates and Louise Keller and brother; A.J. Coates, Jr. Survivors include his wife Lucille Jones Coates of Columbia, son; Ronnie Coates and wife, Sharla of Columbia, daughter; Suzanne Allen of New Iberia, six grandchildren: Alexis Holmes, Christian Holmes, Marlynn Creel, Cutler Thompson, Aleigh Coates and Jessica Hall, four great-grandchildren: Gracie Creel, Stuart Creel, Randi Creel and Logan Thompson with the fifth expected to arrive this summer; Sophia Hall and special friend; Rachel Denison. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Slater, Bob Meredith, Cutler Thompson, Christian Holmes, Ronnie Darden and Randy Black. Honorary pallbearers will be Frank Reitzell, H.L. Poole, John Parker and Brian Hall. Any planned memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the choir of the First United Methodist Church of Columbia or charity of your choice.