Obituaries

James "Jim" Mitchell Coates Jr.

Photo of James "Jim" Mitchell Coates Jr.
JAMES "JIM" MITCHELL COATES JR., died peacefully on Sept. 10 in Frisco, Texas, at the age of 86 from complications of prostate cancer. He was born on Aug. 16, 1926, in Little Rock, Ark., to Hilda Cornish Coates and James Mitchell Coates Sr. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mimi Coates Jones. He is survived by his wife, Nelva, of Frisco; his brother, Edward Cornish Coates of Little Rock; and his children, James (Jamie) Mitchell Coates III (Chris) of Dallas, Cindy Coates Miller (Pat) of Little Rock, and Robin Coates Look (David) of Dallas. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Mat Miller and Marian Miller Steward (Eric) of Little Rock, Jay Coates IV, Tait Coates (Katie), Kate Look, Rob Look, and Wilson Look all of Dallas, and three great-grandchildren, Alex Miller, Miller Steward, and Marian Elizabeth Steward of Little Rock. Jim attended Little Rock public schools and graduated from Little Rock High School in 1942. He attended Yale University in New Haven, Conn., and left in 1944 to enter the U.S. Naval Officer Training program at Rice University in Houston, Texas, where he played varsity football for the Rice Owls. After the war, he returned to Little Rock to join the family insurance business, Coates & Raines, which was later acquired by Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. Jim was appointed Regional Vice President for Fireman's Fund and managed the regional multi-state insurance business of Fireman's Fund in Detroit, Mich., and later in Tampa, Fla. He earned many awards for sales growth and management. Jim retired in Tampa and later moved to Frisco, Texas to be close to his family in Dallas. Jim had a distinguished career in Arkansas, serving as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1951 to 1958. He served on the Little Rock School Board from 1962 to 1965, was President of the Little Rock Boys Club, and Chairman of the United Way of Pulaski County. He served on numerous boards and was dedicated to serving his community and state. Jim was a founding member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Little Rock, Ark., where he served as a member of the Vestry, as Junior Warden, and as Senior Warden. He was active in church activities in both Detroit and Tampa, and later as a member of Christ Anglican Church in Plano, Texas. Jim was a true Southern gentleman, always kind, generous, and forthcoming. He was a man's man, athletic, and fit. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed a good game of gin rummy with his friends. He was a former member of the Country Club of Little Rock and was the CCLR golf champion. He had strong family ties with all of his children and grandchildren, listening and leading them by example. His friends were many and loyal everywhere he lived and worked. His summers were spent at his family cottage on Lake Michigan at Epworth Heights in Ludington, Mich. Interment will be at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Little Rock with a memorial service at 11 p.m. on Monday officiated by the the Rev. Lisa Fry. Memorials may be made to Yale University, P.O. Box 2038, New Haven, Conn., 06521, or to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Mississippi, Little Rock, Ark. 72207.

Published September 16, 2012

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