Obituary of John Andrew Coates

It is with sad and heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our loving father, John Coates. He passed away suddenly at the age of 79 on April 12, 2016 at Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock, BC. He is survived by his 3 daughters, Jacqueline, Allison and Joanne, their husbands, his seven grandchildren, his sister AnneMarie with her 3 sons, and the two daughters of his deceased brother, Peter. Two and a half years ago, after 52 years of marriage, he lost his beloved wife Valerie following her long battle with Alzheimer's. He was devoted to her comfort and care in her final years and visited her daily at the the nursing home. John was a teacher for 24 years, retiring from Immaculate Conception Catholic School in 2001. He began his career as a mining engineer, and upon completing his degree at Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall England, he and Val emmigrated to Canada and he worked in many areas of BC. He has been a long standing parishioner at Good Shepherd Church in Surrey and served with the Knights of Columbus for many years. His love and appreciation of God's beautiful creation was expressed in his respect for nature, love of the wilderness and tending of his lovely garden at Sunnyside Gate where he lived out his final years. We will miss his kind, warm smile, his sensitive, caring nature and his ability to easily strike up conversation with friends and strangers alike. A loving husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend, he shall be deeply missed.