Lorene Coates

Funeral services for Mrs. Lorene Johnston Coates, age 81 of Columbia, will be held at 10 AM Friday, October 8, 2010 from the chapel of Riser Funeral Home in Columbia with Bro. Jack McKeithen and Bro. Maxwell Bennett officiating. Interment will follow at Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson. Visitation will be Thursday evening at the funeral home from 5 PM to 8 PM. Mrs. Coates was born on May 3, 1929 in Sikes to the union of James Arthur Johnston and Velma Gregory Johnston and passed from this life on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe after a brief illness. In 1945 Lorene met and married Elly W. Coates and made Caldwell Parish their home. She was a homemaker and in later years worked at Warner's Shoppe, Ledbetter Jewelry and at Bebe's. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and seeing different parts of the country. She loved her yardwork and flowers, but most of all the family time spent with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a founding and active member of the Columbia First Church of God. Lorene has been a resident of the Haven Nursing Center in Columbia. Our family would like to express our thanks and appreciation to all staff and residents for the love and care she received. She considered the Haven Nursing Center her home and the residents were her extended family. "I shall pass through this world but once, therefore, if there be any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again." Special thanks to Dr. Pankaj Shroff and the staff at Citizens Medical Center, St Francis Medical Center ICU Unit; and 5th floor nurses, who showed so much love and care for our loved one as well as providing comfort and care to our family members. Mrs. Coates was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; Elly W. Coates, brother; Jack D. Johnston and grandson-in-law; Bryan K. Baum. Survivors include her daughter; Janette Coates Stuart and husband, James of Columbia, two grandchildren: Cheryl Minninger and husband, Richard of Grayson and James R. Stuart and wife, Monica of Hebert, two brothers: Billy D. Johnston and wife, Ruby and Lloyd Johnston and wife, Linda both of West Monroe, sister; Chlotine Crain of Columbia, five great-grandchildren: Stuart Baum, Zachary Baum, Spencer Baum, Dallas Stuart and Reece Stuart and many nieces and nephews and friends. Pallbearers will be Scott Meredith, Elgin McFadden, Jerry Meredith, Lynn Meredith, Gary Stuart and Terry Johnston. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob McIlwain, Dr. E.D. Coates, Richard Minninger, Bo Crain, Freeman Crain and Joe Tyler. Any planned memorials may be made to the Caldwell Parish Library, First Church of God or charity of one's choice.