Carol Marie Coats of Larkspur, Colorado passed away May 14, 2021. She was 96. Born to John and Marie (Ferdinand) Will in Whiting, Illinois on April 28, 1925, Carol graduated from High School at 16 years old and left home to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.
Carol graduated from Washington University where she met and married her first husband, Robert Lee. Together they had three children, Marsha, Bob, and John. Their marriage later ended. Carol continued on her professional path as a nurse, working for public health in Denver.
Carol married John I. Coats in 1957 and their son Paul was born in 1959. Their love for each other and life was undeniable. Carol and John were married for 61 years, until his passing in 2018.
Carol and John found a passion for travel that lasted their entire lives, extending well after John’s military retirement. There are not many areas of the world they had not been to! They also called many disparate places “home.” One of those beloved places was Guatemala, where Carol continued to love and care as a nurse. Carol and John shared that love of travel with their children and grandchildren. Mexico was one of her favorite “getaway” destinations. Stories of frozen turkeys brought across borders and days spent juicing the sweetest of limes will be remembered. Carol was a master Scrabble player and a Scrabble board was always at the ready, in whatever far away place, and in whatever setting. Many adept Scrabble players have learned from her tutelage. She would like to be remembered as the undefeated Scrabble champion.
Carol and John would plan and coordinate family reunions. These reunions are looked back upon as being more than epic, in places such as Colorado, Virginia, Minnesota, Montana, Missouri, Utah, and Mexico (to name a few). Days-long and activities-filled, but more than anything, these reunions gave their family time and opportunities to build and keep their relationships. They instilled the love of family and demonstrated the desire for their family to be close and in each other’s lives, despite being geographically spread out. Their love was ever present. Carol taught her family the meaning of true unconditional love through her ability to build and cultivate family relationships. She had great pride in her family and the relationships she was able to grow.
Carol is survived by her children, Marsha (Doug) Sperling, Bob (Trudy) Coats, Paul (Patricia Ryan) Coats; her grandchildren, Tyson, Crystal, Charles, Katelyn, Stellan, Theo, Ilsa, Bjorn, Thad, Noah, Fawn (Cody), Shayla (Sam), Kendrick, and Clara Carol; and great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Abygale, Piper, Ronnin, and Evalette; her beloved cat companion Ms. Kitty, and her beloved son John’s dog companion, Cooper. Carol was preceded in death by her parents, husband John I. Coats, her son John Lee Coats, and her two brothers Earl and Kenneth Will.
Carol’s love for her family will be earnestly remembered. She is a part of so many experiences and warm memories that her family will always hold close in their hearts. Carol will be greatly missed.
“We will miss you, Queen Bee.”
A Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 11:00am-12:15pm, at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3737 New Hope Way, Castle Rock, Colorado. A Committal Service will be held on June 22, 2021 at 2:00pm, at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, Colorado.
