COATS OBITUARIES, Henry County, Missouri
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COATS, Nancy PINKSTON GUTRIDGE 1835 - 1924

Passing of the Pioneer. Those who lead the way into the great Mississippi valley 
when it was a vast wild, inhabited only by roving bands of Indians, are leaving us 
one by one; but there is something peculiarly interesting about them all. They 
loved the natural; they loved and trusted one another, and they loved and trusted 
God. Industrious, they gloried in accomplishment by the sweat of the brow and as 
they would shun the bite of the poison reptile, they spurned dishonesty, cheating, 
or trying to obtain something for nothing. Benevolent, they divided their stores 
with the unfortunate, ministered to the afflicted, and shared their meager 
comforts with the altars; gathered from many miles to hold camp meetings, and 
in time built rude churches in which they poured out their very souls in song and 
prayer to God. There were no pianos or pipe organs but the Angels never heard 
sweeter music. Nancy G. Coats was born in Kentucky Nov. 12, 1835; died at the 
home of her daughter, Mrs. C. A. Davis, in Eaton, Colorado, June 6, 1924. Aged 88 
years 6 months and 24 days. Her maiden name was Pinkston and at the age of six 
her parents moved from Kentucky to Henry county, Mo., settling near Calhoun. 
After the death of her parents she made her home with her married sister, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Summers, in Bear Creek township. In December 1855, she was married 
to William Gutridge and moved to their new and spacious home near Bear Creek 
church. To this union three children were born - one daughter who died in infancy 
and two boys - John W. and James H., who both preceded her in the last voyage. 
William Gutridge, her first husband, died in 1861 and she remained a widow 
throughout the Civil war, enduring many hardships. In 1866 she was united in 
marriage to William Coats, who died in 1873. Two daughters were born to this 
union - Mrs. C. A. Davis, of Eaton, Colorado, and Mrs. C. A. Rice, of Montrose, Mo. 
This good woman lived nearly four score years in Henry county and every act of 
her life was worthy of praise. We remember her as a woman of 40 years, tall, 
graceful, modest, beautiful. A voice like a silver bell, ringing with melody as she 
told the sweet story of redemption when she was a girl, and of her union with the 
M. E. church, South. We remember her years of faithful service since then, how 
she had watched by the bedside of the sick and dying through the long, weary 
hours of night, smoothing the pillow and bathing the fevered brow, and we 
wonder no more why God lengthened her days. We remember at last when she 
seemed but a shadow of the past, patient in affliction, pure in thought, sweet in 
disposition, still trying to help others by enduring, without complaint, all the 
pangs of a heroine's death, more than conqueror of every foe, victor on every 
battlefield from the rising of the morning sun in the awakening vales of Kentucky 
88 years ago, to the sinking of the last evening ray over the towering Rockies of 
Colorado, and we must say, though our hearts swell with sorrow, it is no wonder 
that the Messenger came with a gem-bedecked crown and took her to the "Land of 
the Unclouded Day." The funeral was held at Bear Creek church June 10, 1924, 
Rev. Dillon, pastor of that church officiating. The remains were laid to rest in the 
family burying ground near the church. Nancy G. Coats remained a faithful member 
of Bear Creek Class, M. E. church, South, unto death. She was, perhaps, the oldest 
and lived a consistent member longer than any other in the history of the church. 
It was her desire to be brought back to the place where she lived practically all 
of her life for burial. She was ready and willing to go. She had not the slightest 
fear of death. Her faith was supreme and her hope of eternal life grew brighter 
and brighter until earth faded from view.


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