ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. Obituary for: COATS, JOHN B. Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. Source: Honaker Funeral Home, Slidell, La. Died: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 ======================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ======================================================================= COATS, JOHN B. November 19, 2013 ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/sttammany/obits/dateobits/2013/st1311.htm and click to view list of photos. ========== John B. Coats died at his home in Slidell on November 19, 2013. John was born on January 23, 1930, in Bastrop, Louisiana and moved with his family from the farm to New Orleans in 1936. He had an industrious youth which including shining shoes on Canal Street, trapping with his stepfather Red Parker throughout St. Tammany Parish and Pearl River, and cutting grass at his long-standing job at the Metairie Cemetery. John was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis Leavell Coats and Cecelia Carroll Coats; his sister, Barbara Arnberg, his brothers Leavell Coats and Thomas “Burr” Coats, the mother of his children, Mary Elizabeth Davis, and his longtime companion, Mary Virginia Legeai. He is survived by his sister, Beverly Patterson of Birmingham, his children, John Brunson Coats of Slidell, Elizabeth Coats McFarland of New Orleans, and David Stebbins Coats (Nancy) of Raleigh, North Carolina; grandchildren, Ashley Coats Boucher (Michael) of Los Angeles and Celia Coats and Roxana Coats both of Raleigh; and great grandson Benjamin Boucher of Los Angeles. He is also survived by his companion, Marilyn Schroeder; his executive assistant, Lillian Brown; and many a niece and nephew. John graduated from Fortier High School in 1948 and immediately hit the ground running trying to get in business as, among other things, a coffee roaster, a butcher, and a trucking company dispatcher. He then learned the construction business through his service in the United States Navy as a Seabee. John became a licensed general contractor and owned and operated Trade Mark Homes in New Orleans and then, as a licensed real estate broker, owned and operated Trade Mark Realty in New Orleans. He also started a half-dozen other real estate and development companies and, to the end, couldn't look at a piece of land or old historic property without an inquisitive eye. He received many commendations from the historic preservation society for his work on historic houses both Uptown and in the French Quarter. John helped introduce the concept of condominiums to the New Orleans marketplace. His first townhouse project sits at the corner of Washington and St. Charles Avenue. He built the first medical condominium in Jefferson Parish named Doctor's Row. His last condominium project was the high rise built next to Audubon Park and the river called 123 Walnut. John loved playing tennis with his wonderful and expansive tennis group and was a member of many senior USTA teams which won a multitude of State championships. He loved reciting poetry to any willing audience; hosting enthusiastic Saints' parties; traveling anywhere and everywhere at the drop of a hat; fishing with his grandchildren; attempting to broaden his culinary skills in somewhat bold directions; telling terrific stories; and partaking of a good drink. He was an infamous raconteur and a scholarly historian of the gentrified families in Uptown New Orleans and Slidell. He was hail fellow well met, who enjoyed life and was willing to please and be pleased. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Family and friends are invited on Monday, November 25, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. to a Memorial Service celebrating his life at First United Methodist Church, 433 Erlanger Street, Slidell, La.. There will be a reception following the Memorial. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Covenant House New Orleans - one of John's favorite charities. ===================