Lynn
Lynn Afton Coates
d. April 27, 2016
Born on a cold November 25th in 1925, Lynn started his journey of a life well lived in Eureka, California. Lynn lived in many places during his childhood including Indian reservations and lumber camps as his home was moved from site to site on a rail car. Much of Lynn's early education was in a single room schools house.
Lynn was a veteran of the Army Air Corps. While training to support aircraft during World War II, he was injured badly when a truck rolled over him. This led to his losing a kidney, broken bones, a long recovery, and his losing his opportunity to serve in combat.
After leaving the military Lynn became a member of the Berkeley Motorcycle Club and developed several lifetime friendships. During this time he met Patricia Kelly who, like Lynn, was an avid roller skating fan. He paid for her lessons and new roller skates, and they competed in skating competitions as a duo. She became his wife soon after her 18th birthday. Their marriage lasted 61 years until Patricia passed away.
Lynn and Patricia had two sons, Clay Coates, now 65, and Chadd Coates, now 63. Chadd married Consulelo Icaza of Guayaquil, Ecuador and had three children Adriana, Jason and Nicholas. Adriana is now married to Fred Yon of Tuscaloosa, AL. Jason is now married to Alexandra Squitieri of Miami, FL.
Lynn loved his work as a mold maker for Continental Can Company. He completed his apprenticeship and soon became a supervisor. Lynn enjoyed both being a mold maker and a supervisor. His skills led to several promotions and a move to Southern California. He later owned a machine shop, Lynnco Machining, which manufactured high performance shocks for motorcycles. For a time, he and Patricia enjoyed traveling to watch motorcycle races, and his shock absorbers in action. During his travels, particularly to beach front communities, he never missed an opportunity to fly acrobatic 2 string kites.
Lynn enjoyed travel and saw much of Mexico and parts of South America. He and Patricia spent much of the 1990's traveling the country with their 5th wheel trailer in tow. They made new friends and picked up new hobbies such as square dancing and carving while researching their family's ancestry. They visited all but 2 of the states in the US.
After parking their trailer, Lynn spent his senior years in Southaven, MS. Even with Patricia by his side, he was restless in retirement so he became a greeter at Sam's Club where many people in North MS knew him as Mr. Lynn. Mr. Lynn really enjoyed his time meeting and greeting people at Sam's Club. Lynn also spent a lot of time with Patricia helping AARP and St. Timothy's Episcopal Church. When Patricia passed away in 2010, Lynn continued his work at St. Timothy\'s for several years.
Lynn finished his Journey Wednesday morning 4/27 of this year, when Jesus led him home.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday April 30th at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Southaven, MS at 1:30 PM. All are welcome.
Lynn was a veteran of the Army Air Corps. While training to support aircraft during World War II, he was injured badly when a truck rolled over him. This led to his losing a kidney, broken bones, a long recovery, and his losing his opportunity to serve in combat.
After leaving the military Lynn became a member of the Berkeley Motorcycle Club and developed several lifetime friendships. During this time he met Patricia Kelly who, like Lynn, was an avid roller skating fan. He paid for her lessons and new roller skates, and they competed in skating competitions as a duo. She became his wife soon after her 18th birthday. Their marriage lasted 61 years until Patricia passed away.
Lynn and Patricia had two sons, Clay Coates, now 65, and Chadd Coates, now 63. Chadd married Consulelo Icaza of Guayaquil, Ecuador and had three children Adriana, Jason and Nicholas. Adriana is now married to Fred Yon of Tuscaloosa, AL. Jason is now married to Alexandra Squitieri of Miami, FL.
Lynn loved his work as a mold maker for Continental Can Company. He completed his apprenticeship and soon became a supervisor. Lynn enjoyed both being a mold maker and a supervisor. His skills led to several promotions and a move to Southern California. He later owned a machine shop, Lynnco Machining, which manufactured high performance shocks for motorcycles. For a time, he and Patricia enjoyed traveling to watch motorcycle races, and his shock absorbers in action. During his travels, particularly to beach front communities, he never missed an opportunity to fly acrobatic 2 string kites.
Lynn enjoyed travel and saw much of Mexico and parts of South America. He and Patricia spent much of the 1990's traveling the country with their 5th wheel trailer in tow. They made new friends and picked up new hobbies such as square dancing and carving while researching their family's ancestry. They visited all but 2 of the states in the US.
After parking their trailer, Lynn spent his senior years in Southaven, MS. Even with Patricia by his side, he was restless in retirement so he became a greeter at Sam's Club where many people in North MS knew him as Mr. Lynn. Mr. Lynn really enjoyed his time meeting and greeting people at Sam's Club. Lynn also spent a lot of time with Patricia helping AARP and St. Timothy's Episcopal Church. When Patricia passed away in 2010, Lynn continued his work at St. Timothy\'s for several years.
Lynn finished his Journey Wednesday morning 4/27 of this year, when Jesus led him home.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday April 30th at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Southaven, MS at 1:30 PM. All are welcome.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lynn Afton Coates, please visit our flower store.
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