Sam Coats

Sam Coats

A graveside service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., on Friday, April 18, 2008 at Hagerman Cemetery for Sam Coats, 83 of Dexter who passed away April 14, 2008 at his home. Sam will lie in state at the Ballard Funeral Home in Roswell from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 17, 2008. Rev Stephen Deutsch of First Presbyterian Church of Dexter will officiate and assisted by Robert Bowles of East Side Church of Christ.

Sam was born on December 12, 1924 in Coalgate, Oklahoma to James Wesley Coats and Ella Sue Allen Coats. His family moved to Dexter in 1936. Sam joined the US Army in 1943 and served in Belgium and France December of 1944 to August of 1945. On October 18, 1946 Sam married Imogene Mavis Phillips in Dexter.

After the Army he farmed for a year then started working for Johnston Pump Company in Roswell in 1947. In 1955 he joined his brother Dobber in Dexter and they renamed the business Coats Brothers, doing both plumbing and well service work. He left Coats Brothers and started Coats Pump and Supply Inc. in 1972 where he remained until retiring in 2003. Sam devoted most of his life to the conservation of water and worked for the betterment of water well irrigation to the farmers and communities of The Pecos Valle and South Eastern New Mexico.

Sam was a Member of Church of Christ in Dexter. He was on the Dexter Volunteer Fire Department. He also served as a member of the Dexter Town Council.

Sam is survived by his wife: Imogene Mavis Phillips Coats of the family home; his sons: Philip Coats and wife Lucie of Dexter, Coy Coats and wife Laurie of Tucumcari, NM and Ben Coats and wife Debora of Dexter; ten grand children: John Coats and wife Kari, James Coats and wife Shelley, Samantha Cartwright and husband Mark, Amanda Coats, Kimberly Coats, Cliff Coats, Christopher Coats and friend Jennifer Cullins, Patrick Coats and wife Emily, Ashley Vernon and husband James and Chance Coats; five great grandchildren; and a sister in law; Dorthy Coats of Alameda, California

He is preceded in death by his parents: James Wesley Coats and Ella Sue Allen Coats; his two brothers: B.F. Coats, J.W. Dobber Coats and his wife Betty Coats; and his two sisters: Bernice Coats and Juanita Coats.

Pallbearers will be John Coats, James Coats, Patrick Coats, Christopher Coats, Chance Coats, Mark Cartwright and James Vernon; Honorary Pallbearers will be Marvin Bramlett, Jim Lankford, Steve Stevens, Joe Durand, Clifford Butts, Dwight Sharp, James Freeland, Bud Wortman and Glenn Marshall.

The family wishes to thank Vista Care and their staff for all the care during Sams Illness, and a special thanks to Rita and Cynthia Torrez, Gloria Horton and Deona Anderson.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made in Sams name to the New Mexico Christian Childrens Home West Star Route, Box 48, Portales, NM 88130 or a charity of your choice

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory. An online registry can be accessed at www.ballardfuneralhome.com

Visitation

Ballard Funeral Home
910 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Thursday, April 17, 2008
8:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.

Service

Graveside Services

Hagerman Cemetery
P.O. Box 266
Hagerman, NM  88232
Friday, April 18, 2008
10:30 a.m.

Cemetery

Hagerman
P.O. Box 266
Roswell, NM  88232

Memorial Contributions

New Mexico Christian Childrens Home
1356 NM 236
Portales, NM  88130