Fernita A Coats

Fernita A. Coats, 98, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff.

Mrs. Coats, the daughter of the late Carl and Fay Dollarhide Holcomb, was born Dec. 4, 1917 in Sylvania, Mo. and grew up in Kansas City, Mo. After graduating from high school she worked for the Eagles during WWII. Mrs. Coats was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff and had retired from First National Bank as a banker. She also served as an administrative assistant for the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce and was a docent at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum. She loved to spend time with her family and enjoyed cooking, bird watching, china painting, bridge, golf, fishing, and watching St. Louis Cardinal's baseball

On June 19, 1944, she married John Curtis Coats in El Paso, Texas. He preceded her in death on May 25, 2006.

Mrs. Coats is survived by four children: Susan Coats and her husband, Philip Barenz of Sioux Falls, SD, Joyce Whitworth of Poplar Bluff, Johnna Coats and her husband, Richard Garman of Tiburon, Calif. and Philip Coats and his wife, Christine Jensen of San Diego, Calif.; two grandchildren: John Ryan Whitworth and Anna Garman; three great-grandchildren: Lucas, Jack, and Ellie Whitworth; and a cousin, Sam Foursha of Nevada, Mo.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Friday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff with the funeral service following at 10 a.m. The Rev. David Stewart will officiate. A graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. Friday at Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector, Ark.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church Choir, 500, North Main St., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.