Johnnie Coats III, 58, of La Porte, IN, was called home after a brief illness Thursday Oct. 17, 2019, at Franciscan Health Hospital in Michigan City, IN.
He was born Jan. 12, 1961, in La Porte, the son of Johnnie Coats II and Sammie Ella (Floyd) Coats.
Johnnie was a tool and die maker at Dwyer Instruments Inc. Growing up, Johnnie enjoyed competing and talking about Martial Arts. As a boy he had aspirations and dreams of becoming a Martial Arts professional. He enjoyed hanging out and spending time with family and friends. To get to know him was to love him. He had a subtle sense of humor. He was good at capturing your attention with his life stories and experiences. He was a free-spirited guy who did it his way.
He is survived by his four sisters, Ruby Coats, Brinda Coats of La Porte, Marline Coats of Atlanta, GA, and Sandra Coats of Lafayette, IN; three brothers, Morris (Anna) Coats of Carmel, IN, James Coats, and Troy Coats of La Porte; as well as nieces, a great-niece and nephews, and a great-nephew: Nicole Coats, Chasiti Stanley, Sky (Anthwon) Thomas, Demetrius Coats, Johnnie, Monica, and Emily Coats, Nicholas and Zion Greer, James Coats Jr., Mason Hervey, Drayson Fortenberry, Asa, Ezra, Ira, Nya Thomas, Jerome Foster Jr., and Marla Foster.
Johnnie was preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie Coats II and Sammie Ella (Floyd) Coats, and his sister, Shirley Stanley.
The family will receive friends at Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, La Porte, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. A life celebration will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Curtis Gillispie officiating. Interment will follow at Pine Lake Cemetery, La Porte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the to the family of Johnnie Coats III.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.