Nancy Lou Coates' Obituary
Nancy Coates passed away on July 2nd, 2023 at Murphy Place in Corydon. She was born in Chariton, Iowa on March 24, 1931 to Coye and Marshall Whiteley. She was an only child. Nancy attended school in Corydon, graduating from high school in 1949. Nancy attended Stephens College for 1 year and Iowa State University for 1 year. She graduated with an Elementary Education degree at Drake University. Her very first job was selling Child Craft Books. She worked at an in- home Nursery school in Centerville for 2 years, and she taught in a Kindergarten classroom in Cambria for a year.
Nancy married her childhood sweetheart, Carl Thomas Coates, on August 10th, 1950. From that union, three children were born: Thomas Marshall, Christopher Carl, and Michael Henry.
In a note listing out "some of the things she was able to do in her life", Nancy said, "I felt very fortunate to be able to say I was just a home-maker since taking care of my family was the one thing for which I cared the most." Nancy was very active in her sons' lives. She was Home Room Mother for all 3 boys, a Cub Scout Leader, PTA President, and a Sunday School Teacher.
Nancy was also extremely active in her community. She lived her entire life in Wayne County, and she had a heart for local service. She served as PEO President and was a member of PEO Chapter BR for 74 years. She was a member of Corydon United Methodist Church where she volunteered as a Bible School Organizer & Teacher, served on the Church Board for the Building Committee, and she was part of the Church Circle Leaders as well as the Trust Builders. She volunteered with The American Cancer Society for 40 years, and she spoke at some of their events as a breast cancer survivor. Nancy also volunteered with Home Health and the Hospital Auxiliary.
In 1987, Nancy & Carl started Consumer Credit of Des Moines with son Tom and his wife Lee Ann. Nancy worked there with her family until retirement in 2012.
Nancy also had many dear friends that she enjoyed spending time with, including being in Bridge Club for most of her adult life. Nancy loved paperweights, and she had an entire room at the family home in Corydon where they were on display. She was a paperweight dealer for 12 years, and she attended paperweight shows all over.
Nancy & Carl traveled far and wide in their motor home and enjoyed those special times away together. One of their favorite places to go was Las Vegas. The two loved holding hands. In later years, Nancy and Carl enjoyed solitaire or nuts card games every day. Nancy & Carl were married for 68 years, and he preceded her in death in 2019. Their love story was one for the ages.
Nancy is survived by sons: Tom (Lee Ann) and Mike (Gloria Burleson); Six grandchildren: Sarah (Dustin Harper), Katie (Charlie Ochanpaugh), Grant Coates (Katie), Casey Coates (Dana), Breann Enright (Michael), and Chase Coates (Malorie) She is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Carl, son Chris, and her parents.
Memorial service will be Wednesday, July 12th at the Corydon United Methodist Church,213 W. Jackson St. Visitation will be from 9:30-11:00 a.m. with service immediately following at 11:00 a.m. Memorials may be made to the Corydon United Methodist Church or to Murphy's Place in honor of Nancy Coates and may be mailed to Thomas Funeral Home, ATTN: Coates Family, 303 E Jefferson St. P.O. Box 294, Corydon, Iowa, 50060. Condolences may be shared online at www.thomasfh.com or on our funeral home Facebook page.
The service will be live streamed at my.gather.app/remember/nancy-coates-2023
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