Geraldine Coates' Obituary
Geraldine (Portwood) Coates 83, of Arma, KS died 2:30am Tuesday July 19, 2016 at the Arma Health and Rehab following an illness.
Geraldine was born May 21, 1933 in Golden City, MO the daughter of Leland and Goldie (Hendrix) Fisher. Geraldine was a lifelong resident of the area and attended area schools. On September 30, 1948 Geraldine married Frank E. Portwood; he preceded her in death on July 10, 1973. On March 8, 1975 Geraldine married William Earl Coates in Gross, KS; he preceded her in death on June 18, 2010.
Geraldine worked in housekeeping for 30+ years at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Pittsburg and was a homemaker. She was a Charter member of the Lighthouse Tabernacle Church in Pittsburg, KS. She was the last surviving Charter member. Geraldine will be most remembered by her cooking on Sunday afternoons for family and children, lover of gospel music, her bible, her love of children and her loving, kind and beautiful smile.
Survivors include her children Carolyn Garrett and husband Leroy of Neodesha, KS, Patty Matson of Pittsburg, KS, Rose Douglas and husband Ron of Mulberry, KS, Mary Jones and husband Randy of Mulberry, KS, Jerry Portwood and wife Rhonda of Mulberry, KS; stepchildren Loren Coates and wife Lila of Mulberry, KS, Brian Coates and wife Diane of Mulberry, KS, Janet Ingle of Olathe, KS; siblings Larry Fisher and wife Jane of Nevada, MO, Imogene Brown of Pittsburg, KS; 17 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Geraldine was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, brother Kenneth Fisher, son-in-law John Matson a step-daughter daughter Judy Dawson and a step-son Frankie Lee Portwood.
Funeral Services will be 2:00pm, Friday July 22, 2016 at the Lighthouse Tabernacle Church, 604 S. 200th, Pittsburg, KS with Pastor Daryl Gaddy officiating. Burial will follow at the Rosebank Cemetery in Mulberry, KS. Family will receive friends from 7-8:00pm Thursday July 21, 2016 at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg, KS. In lieu of flowers the family asks expressions of sympathy to be in the form of memorials to the Mulberry Dinner Fund. Friends may drop or mail memorials to the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 522 S. Broadway Pittsburg, KS 66762. E-mail condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com. Arrangements are by Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg, KS.
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