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Obituary for LEMUEL W. COATES
Our Dad, Lemuel W. Coates, was born on July 25, 1927, to the late Mary Elizabeth Jones Cleveland and Roland Coates in Calvert County, MD. The Lord called our beloved Dad home on January 26, 2013. Our Dad received his education in Calvert County at Randall Cliff Elementary School. He was a member of St. Edmonds United Methodist Church. On December 4, 1950, Daddy joined the United States Army and in 1952, he transferred to the United States Army Reserve and was honorably discharged on December 11, 1956. Our Dad learned the trade of masonry at an early age. He worked as a mason for over 30 years at Maryland Development Company with Frances Brown and the late Edward Holland. He retired in the late 70's; however, he continued to do side jobs in the field of masonry. On May 12, 1951, Daddy married the love of his life, our mom, Ruth Thelma Jones. From their union they had two daughters, me, Elsa also known as 'Susie' and me, Audrey also known as 'Bookie.' Our Dad loved our Mom with all his heart. He would call her his 'Doll'. In the later years when Mother was not able to get around, he devoted his time to caring for her and waiting on her hand and foot. When she was admitted to the nursing home; he visited her often. Father missed his 'Doll' ever so dearly. They spoke several times a day and he always ended their phone calls with 'I love you Doll'. Daddy loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them, especially the grandchildren and the great-grands. He also enjoyed having other family members and friends stop by to sit and talk with him. Our Dad was a very humble, soft spoken man and one who met no strangers. He loved to talk and share stories about the 'good ole days', his upbringing, military service, jobs and the houses he help to build. He had a gentle spirit and peace about him that you saw and felt each time you were in his presence. He was at peace with himself. In the earlier years our Dad loved fishing and crabbing. He, Granny and the rest of the family could be found on any given Saturday at the pier in Chesapeake Beach fishing and crabbing for hours. Daddy could be seen traveling 'over beach', several times a day. He would put his figures, which means to “play his numbers”, go to Roland’s, or put that $5 -$6 of gas in 'Old Betsy', his car. One thing for sure, he never ran out of gas. He enjoyed watching the gospel network station-TBN, listening to gospel music, watching baseball, old western movies and his favorite Soap opera, The Young and The Restless. You could pass by the house and find him wiping off his car, or just doing something in the yard. Although moving at a much slower pace, he kept active until the end. Our Dad leaves to cherish his memory, his 'Doll' and beloved wife of 61 years, Ruth Thelma Jones Coates, two daughters, Elsa Emerson and Audrey Thomas, one son-in-law, Howard Emerson Sr.; four grandchildren, Miranda Casey, Faith Emerson, Howard Emerson Jr. and Courtney Thomas, eight great grandchildren, Howard Emerson III, Shanice Bell, Teanna Emerson, Talia Emerson, Barry Holland Jr., Briana Casey, Darius Thomas and Jeremiah Thomas, and one great-great grandson, Isaac Simms Jr. He also leaves to mourn one sister, Alice Thompson, three brothers, Carl Coates, Theodore Gross, and John Cleveland Jr., in addition, sisters-in-law, Ernestine Jones, Rose Jones, Violet Jones, and Fern Coates; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great nephews, relatives and many friends. He had three special friends, Joseph 'Dooley' Jones, Calvin 'Cowboy' Gross Sr. and John Titus. Our Dad was preceded in death by his parents Mary Elizabeth Jones Cleveland and Roland Coates, sister Mary Frances Gross Parren, and brothers, Robert 'Bobbie' Gross and Leroy Gross and son-in-law, Donald David Thomas. Lemuel W. Coates, Our Dad; will be missed but not forgotten.
