Obituary for Eleanor Smith Coates

Eleanor Esther Smith Coates, born Aug. 1, 1924, in Omaha, Neb. the daughter of Victor B. and Esther Devalon Smith, passed away on Monday, June 30, 2014. She was 89.

Beginning at the age of five, to learn speech and lip-reading, Eleanor spent seven years at Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, Mo. In 1942, she graduated high school from Brownell Hall in Omaha, Neb. In 1946, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry at Grinnell College, Iowa, later receiving a distinguished graduate award.

She was employed as a medical technician at Fifth Army Laboratories in Omaha and Fort Sheridan, Ill. In 1947, she married former classmate Carl W. Coates in Omaha. Eleanor’s list of accomplishments included being a homemaker, voluntary civic worker and past treasurer of Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also a sponsor of Dogs for the Deaf in Central Point, Ore. and was enrolled for seven years in International Bible Study Fellowship. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Ponca City and associate member of Quail Springs United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City.

Eleanor was a sports fan. She and Carl enjoyed traveling to Europe, Alaska and the Caribbean Seas. With each of the two hearing ear dogs, they traveled to the four corners of the United States by car and airplane. She resided in Ponca City until 2000 when she moved to Epworth Villa Retirement Center in Oklahoma City.

She is survived by two sons, C. Victor Coates and his wife Marilyn, of Ponca City and Dick Coates and his wife Barbara, of Oklahoma City; three granddaughters, Lindsey Coates, of Phoenix, Ariz., Courtney Thomas and husband Brad, of Oklahoma City and Chelsea Walters and husband Coty, of Edmond. Eleanor also has two great-grandchildren, Crew Thomas and Remington Walters. She is also survived by one niece, Anne Lyman and her husband Ed, of Winnetka, Ill.

Preceding her in death are her husband, Carl; a brother, Victor D. Smith; two sisters, Cora Lee Smith and Elizabeth Smith Horn, all of Omaha. Casket bearers include Michael Boulanger, Roger Riggs, Rick Waddell, Tom Muchmore, Marc Nuttle and Robin Riley.

A visitation with the family will be held from 7-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, at Trout Funeral Home and Crematory. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 3, at Epworth Villa Retirement Community in Oklahoma City.

A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Resthaven Memorial Parks with the Rev. Tom Howard officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Central Institute for the Deaf, Coates-Smith Endowed School Fund, 825 South Taylor Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110.

Source: Trout Funeral Home