Wed., June 23, 1965 James Fredrick Coats was born in the log cabin home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Coats, near Walnut Grove, Missouri, November 26, 1876. In 1884, he, with his parents and other members of the family moved to Barber County, Kansas, where they lived on a farm for three years. Then the pioneer spirit of the father, W. H. Coats, led the family to make the covered wagon journey west into No-Man's land where they settled on a "claim" two miles east of what is now Tyrone, Oklahoma. It was there that James grew into manhood. In 1905, he and Olive Newman were united in marriage. They settled on a homestead in Seward County, Kansas. It was there that their first son Ray was born. a short time later Mr. Coats purchased a farm adjoining the family home east of Tyrone where he lived and farmed until 1936. During this time ten children were born into the family. In 1914, the eldest son, Ray, passed to his heavenly home. Mrs. Coats was called home in 1935. The second son, Theodore, passed away in 1958. In 1936, the family moved to a farm near Ponca City, Oklahoma. They returned to western Oklahoma in 1940 and settled near Wheeless where he lived until failing health made it necessary to enter the Dunaway Manor in Guymon, Oklahoma where he remained until his death June 19, 1965, at the age of 88. While living in the Tyrone community, Mr. Coats was a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge. In early manhood he became a member of the Tyrone Baptist church and he lived to see the day when each of his children became Christians and active members of the church. Mr. Coats is survived by four sons: LeRoy Coats, Walnut, California; Lloyd Coats, Wheeless; Dorton Coats, Liberal; Donald Coats, Ponca City; five daughters: Mrs. A. W. Allen, Wheeless; Mrs. Jack Hudsonpillar, Ponca City; Mrs. Rena Smith, Kaw City, Oklahoma; Mrs. Everett Fenton, Wilcox, Arizona; Mrs. William Bulls, Wheeless; one brother, Calvin Coats, Commanche, Oklahoma; two sisters; Mrs. Ralph Heath, Liberal; and Mrs. Clayton Hoover, Tyrone; twenty-six grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and a host of friends