Samuel Ray Coats

Samuel Ray Coats, age 85, of Mooresboro, passed away Thursday, February 4, 2021 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Samuel was born Thursday, March 21, 1935 in Rutherford County to the late Dock Murray Coats and Susie Smith Coats. He was a graduate of R-S Central High School, class of 1953. Samuel worked as a printer for the Forest City Courier for many years and for the Shelby Star until his retirement. He was a longtime and faithful member of Walls Baptist Church and enjoyed playing softball and baseball. Samuel also loved reading the Bible.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six siblings, Agnes Hall, Ben Coats, Glenn Coats, Elizabeth Huntley, Ann Pederson, Tom Coats and a granddaughter, Angela Sourwine.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of thirty-eight years, Cozette Hughes Coats; son, Mike Coats (Linda) of Wingate, NC; two daughters, Dawn Jones (Garland Jr.) of Bostic and Sandy Sublett (Carson) of Aiken, SC. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Amber Bates, Garland Jones III, Kimberly Porter, Michelle Simpson, Trey Sublett and Taylor Sublett; eight great-grandchildren, Abby Sourwine, Sarah Porter, Riley Porter, Lilli Jones, Ransom Jones, Ella Simpson, Charly Bates and Tristan Simpson.

The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Walls Baptist Church with Reverend David Philbeck officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the church.

Memorial donations are requested to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, P.O. Box 336, Forest City, NC  28043 or Walls Baptist Church, 645 Walls Church Road, Bostic, NC 28018 or to Fair Haven of Forest City, Activity Fund, 830 Bethany Church Road, Forest City, NC  28043.