Lee (E.L.) Coats, 91, of Barnhart died Feb. 20, 2019, at Avalon Memory Care in St. Louis County. Mr. Coats was a retired automobile assembler for the Chrysler Corp. He also was a U.S. Navy veteran and a member of First Baptist Church in Arnold. Born May 16, 1927, in rural Dexter, he was the son of the late John and Nellie (Pruett) Coats. He was preceded in death by his wife: Louise Gwaltney Coats.
He is survived by two sons: Dennis (Paula) Coats Sr. of Imperial and Randy (Donna) Coats of Hillsboro; three daughters: Karen (Tom) Tevlin of Arnold, Karla Coats of St. Louis and Kimberly (Randy) Hix of Gerald; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; one brother: Ray (Biddy) Coats of Bernie; and two sisters: Melba Hube of Upland, Calif., and Mary (Steve) Smee of Calvert City, Ky.
He also was preceded in death by one brother: James Coats; and two sisters: Laverne Coats and Mamie Coats.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Kutis Funeral Home, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road, in south St. Louis County. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the funeral home, officiated by Mr. Coats’ grandson, Dennis Coats Jr. Burial will be in Shepherd Hills Cemetery in Barnhart. Arrangements are under the direction of Kutis Funeral Home