James Adam Coats

James Adam Coats was born June 5, 1927, in West Plains, Missouri, the oldest child of Lewis and Marjorie (Hartle) Coats.  He passed from this life on May 31, 2024, in Cabool, Missouri, at the age of 96.

While an infant, James contracted rickets and spent two years in Columbia, Missouri, getting treatment. He was raised during the depression on a farm in Howell County, Missouri. It was there that he acquired the ethic of hard work. 

James graduated from West Plains High School where he enjoyed playing football. He then enlisted in the army and was stationed in post-war Korea. After his time there, James attended the University of Missouri at Columbia on the G.I. Bill. It was there he met the love of his life, Geneva Beltz. They were married February 4, 1950; however, their new life was interrupted when James was called to active duty during the Korean War. He attained the rank of Master Sergeant.

After his discharge, James pursued his dream of being a dairy farmer. James and Geneva bought their farm north of Mountain Grove, Missouri, in 1955. There they raised their six children, Janet, James, Mike, Ruth, Marjorie, and Tom. James started with Jersey cows and later switched to Holsteins. He saw dairy farming progress from milking by hand to the modern methods of today.  

James served on several boards such as MFA, Federal Land Bank, and Mountain Grove Rural Fire District, just to name a few. Over the years, he received several awards. One was the Family Farm of the Year from Texas County at the Missouri State Fair in 1961. In 2011, he was inducted into the University of Missouri Dairy Hall of Fame.

James enjoyed his family and extended family, hosting a Coats family reunion several years at his farm.

James was a courageous man who would help others in need. In 1981, while driving on US 63, north of Rolla, he saw a Missouri Highway Patrolman wrestling with a man on the side of the road. Trooper Matthews had been shot and James stopped and helped subdue the man who was wanted for murder. Governor Kit Bond wrote him a letter of commendation and he was also presented the Bramlett-Light award.

James loved the Lord and served South Street church of God in various capacities. He also supported the Southwest District Campmeeting of the Church of God. James was also a Gideon for several years.

James was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Geneva, a grandson, Andrew Venter, four brothers, Lewis Jr., Roy, Richard, and Robert Coats, two sisters, Marjorie Curtis and Patricia Brewer, his father and mother-in-law, Elmer and Ruth Beltz, brothers and sisters-in-law, Leroy and Irene Beltz, George and Lorene Beltz, Kenneth Beltz, Elizabeth Coats, Lula Coats, Herb Brewer and Doyle Curtis.

He is survived by his children, Janet (Larry) Barkley, James L. (Novalee) Coats, Michael (Daisy) Coats, Ruth (Ed) Southards, Marjorie (Tom) Martuch, and Thomas (Karen) Coats, grandchildren, Eric (Melinda) Venter, Jill (Soren) Petersen, Tim (Shari) Southards, Steve (Erin) Southards, Ben (Ashley) Southards, Anna (David) Peters, Joe Martuch, Lindsay (Craig) Nelson, Adam (Ashley) Coats, Whitney (Louis) Davis and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren, a sister, Susie (Jack) Taylor, other surviving brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Jeannie Beltz, Viola Beltz, Wanda Coats, and Erline Coats, numerous nieces and nephews and many other friends, neighbors, and church family.