Jay Coates

Jay Coates, 86, of Modesto, CA, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on Monday, November 18, 2019 at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, CA.  Jay was born on July 14, 1933 in Sullivan County and raised in Sullivan County and Kingsport. He attended and graduated from Sullivan High School.  A retiree of the Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, TN, Jay spent his later years in Modesto, CA to be near his daughters and grandsons.  He enjoyed baseball, football and basketball and was an avid Yankee, Dodgers and University of Tennessee fan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Elizabeth Coates; mother, Mattie Gertrude Cox (nee Grubbs); and three sisters, Mary Clara Cox Coates of Kingsport, TN, Trula Coates Cox of Kingsport, TN, and Iva Coates Ward of Orlando, FL.

Survivors are his wife of 28 years, Shirley Arlene (Watkins) Coates; two daughters, Karen Coates Pliszka and Vicki Ann Bender (nee Coates) of San Ramon, CA; two step-sons, Dennis Watkins of Kingston, TN, and Mike Watkins of Karns, TN; two grandsons, Eric Bender of New York City, NY, and Matthew Bender of San Ramon, CA; three step-grandchildren, Paige Wright of Fort Payne, AL, Lucas Wakins of Kingston, TN and Riley Watkins of Karns, TN; and 10 step-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 12-1:00 pm on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. The funeral service will follow at 1:00 pm with Bishop Jack Forbes officiating. Burial will follow in East Lawn Memorial Park.