Gary C. Coates Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Gary C. Coates 1942-2016 PRINCETON — Gary C. Coates, 74, of Princeton passed away Sunday, April 10, 2016, at his home. Born March 13, 1942, in Princeton to Robert and Shirley (Cater) Coates, he married Beatrice Urquiza Aug. 8, 1970, in Princeton. He received his bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, where he was a member of the track and field team, and his master’s degree from the University of Illinois. He was an educator and coach at Princeton High School for more than 35 years before retiring in 2002. He was a member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Princeton. He was a member of the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame, and was named an Illinois Consumer Education Teacher of the Year and the 2010 Homestead Festival grand marshal. He was a member of the Princeton High School Board of Education and the Lovejoy Homestead Board of Trustees. He served as the membership chairman for the BCRTA and on the property committee at St. Matthews Lutheran Church. He was a past member of the IHSA Track and Field Advisory Committee, was an official for the IHSA boys and girls state track and field meets, an announcer for the IESA boys and girls state track meets and an announcer for the Peoria Journal Star honor roll track meets. Surviving are his wife; his mother, Shirley Coates; one daughter, Nicole (Skipp) Schaefbauer; one son, Ryan Coates; one sister, Sherrilyn Roberts; two brothers, Michael (Lois) Coates and David (Barb) Coates; two grandchildren, Isabel and McKenna Schaefbauer; four nephews, Andy (Lacie) Coates, Matthew Roberts, Michael (Kathrin) Roberts and Austin Coates; and four nieces, Katie (Mike) Selberg, Heidi (Jeremy) Phillips, Laurelyn Roberts and Kelsie Coates. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Coates. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 15, at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Princeton with Pastor Scott Schmidt officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Princeton. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Norberg Memorial Home in Princeton. Memorials may be directed to Illinois Cancer Care, Princeton Public School Foundation and St. Matthews Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be left at www.norbergfh.com.

Gary C. Coates

March 13, 1942 - April 10, 2016