John Garland Coates Obituary

With heavy hearts, we announce the death of John Garland Coates formerly of Waynesville, North Carolina, who passed away on March 28, 2021 at the age of 92. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of John Garland Coates to pay them a last tribute.

He was loved and cherished by many people including: his parents, Lonnie Lee Coates and Rosa McDaniel; his wife Reba Lambert Coates; his nephew David Coates (Kay) of Rusk, Texas.; his siblings, William Edgar Lambert, Wayne, Webb, Aussie, Leroy, Ralph and Evelyn; his son John; his brother-in-law Ed; his son Steven Lowell Coates of Brooklyn, N. Y.; his daughter-in-law Janice Coates; his grandchildren, Charlotte, Catherine Coates of Brooklyn, Thomas Calloway, Jr. (Dina) and Jennifer Icenhour (Michael) of Cary; his great grandchildren, Ashley Calloway (Kenneth Perry, Jr.) of Midlothian, Thomas Calloway, III (Anna) of Mansfield, Lexi Balduzzi, Amy Icenhour (Carl Lechner) of Raleigh, N. C., Lauren Icenhour and Michael Grayson Icenhour of Cary; his great great grandchild Riley Perry of Midlothian; and also John Philip Coates. He was also cherished by siblings and his many nieces and nephews.

Garland was spared infection with Covid-19, but the hardships, disruptions and isolation the virus imposed on residents of places like Homestead Hills had a devastating effect on both his physical and mental health. He was dealing with challenges common to his age, but during the pandemic he deteriorated alarmingly fast.

Donations in Garland's memory may be made to the Haywood County Rescue Squad: haywoodrescue.org/donate.