Raymond Coates

Mar 11, 1929 -

Oct 15, 2020

Raymond L. Coates, 69-year resident of Eagle River, Alaska, passed on Oct. 15, 2020, at home. He was born in Peoria, Ill., on March 11, 1929, the son of Ralph and Frances Coates. Ray attended Guilford County Schools in Galena, Ill. He graduated from Galena High School. On Sept. 15, 1951, he married Dorrene Richardson. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and came to Alaska on an army troop ship, landing in Whitter, then traveled by train to Fort Richardson, where he was assigned to the 42nd Engineers. In May 1953, he was discharged. Choosing to stay in Alaska, he worked for a contractor building base housing on Elmendorf and what is now the Ted Stevens International Airport. In 1952, Raymond and Dorrene went back to Galena for six months and then returned to Alaska, driving the Alcan Highway in 1954. He retired from Civil Service after 30 years at Ft. Richardson. Ray was a volunteer fireman for 23 years with the Eagle River Fire Department. He liked to do woodwork, was an avid bowler, enjoyed watching WWE, loved country music and collected recycle materials. He and Dorrene traveled to all 50 states. He was a member of Elks Lodge 882 in Galena for 68 years.

Ray is survived by his wife of 69 years, Dorrene; son, Richard; daughter, Vicki Carnahan and her husband Jim; grandson, Kurtis Carnahan and friend Roxanne Puckett; and granddaughter, Jamie Carnahan Agre and her husband Luke; and ex-daughter-in-law, Stacy Coates Letourneau. He is preceded in death by son, Steven Coates; parents, Ralph and Frances Coates; and sister, Helen Bingham. At the Funeral Mass, Dorrene and family will be presented with a certificate from Archdiocese of Anchorage Marriage Encounter in recognition of their 69-year marriage, the longest in the Archdiocese. Funeral Mass is scheduled at St. Andrew's Church in Eagle River on Nov. 12, 2020, at 11 a.m., with Rosary at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place at Fort Richardson at a later date.