Name: John R. Coates Date: August 7th, 1925 - February 28th, 2010 Obituary: John Robert Coates, Sr., 84, passed into the hands of the Lord on February 28, 2010. He was the oldest son of the late John Wallace and Mozell Cogsdill Coats. He was the widower of the late Mattie Lee Arnold Coates. He was retired from the US Postal Service, having worked last as Postmaster at the Calhoun Falls, SC Post Office. He served in the US Coast Guard during World War II. He leaves to cherish his memories one son, John R. Coates, Jr. (Kim), Alabama; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two brothers; Fred Dewitt Coats (Mary Ann), Franklinton, NC; and John Wallace Coats, Jr. (Betty), Waterloo, SC. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his daughter, Susan Coates Chumley, and a brother, Nelson B. Coats. A celebration of life will be held at the Kennedy Mortuary Chapel in Laurens, SC, on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 2 p.m. Visitation will follow the service at the mortuary. Services: 2:00PM at The Kennedy Mortuary Chapel on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 (map/driving directions)