Cordell E. Coats, Sr., 77

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Cordell Earl Coats, Sr., 77, of Sorento, died on Saturday, July 13, 2019, at 1:15 p.m. at his residence.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, July 21, beginning at 1 p.m. at Sorento Community Center, 105 East Taylor Street. The community is invited to join the family for a potluck, and donations of food may be made to the community center the day of the celebration. Cremation will be accorded, and a private family burial will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery in Sorento. Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home in Sorento is assisting the family.

Mr. Coats was born Oct. 16, 1941, in Chapin, to Cecil Earl and Dorothy Pauline (Neece) Coats. Following his military service, he married Wilma Long on Dec. 12, 1964, at the Assembly of God in Sorento, and she survives.

He attended schools in the Alton area, and entered the U.S. Army in June 1961, where he served as a cook. Tours of duty included Guam, Thailand, Okinawa and the Hawaiian Islands.

During his career, Mr. Coats worked for the Duncan Foundry in Alton, Simpson Lee Paper Mill in Vicksburg, MI, farmed in Jacksonville and later became a police officer for the village of Sorento in June 1974. 

He worked for the village for three-and-a-half years before joining the Bond County Sheriff's Department. He worked in Bond County for 13 years, becoming chief deputy. Later he worked in security for United Stationers in Greenville until his retirement in 2005.

Mr. Coats was a member of the American Legion, past president of Bond County Law Enforcement Association, and a member of the First Christian Church of Greenville.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Deina (Michael) Mossman of Sorento and Mendy Lou (Coats) Jett of Litchfield; son, Cordell Earl (Wendy) Coats II of Sorento; grandchildren, Matthew (Stephanie), Michael and Hannah Mossman, Alex and Jessica Jenkins, Les and Jennifer Jett, Mark Steele and Brittany and Kyle Coats; great-grandchildren, Tristen, Peyton Renee and Makenzy Jenkins and Serenity and Jade Mossman; sisters, Lula Fralick of Parchmont, MI, Bertha (Glenn) Covey of Jacksonville, Bonnie Eaton of Hillsboro and Wanda Robinson of Colorado; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Coats was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Cordell Earl Coats III; brothers, Charles and Timothy Coats; sister, Dorothy White; and nephew, Kelly Robinson.

Memorials may be directed to First Christian Church, 1324 Killarney Drive, Greenville, IL 62246; Reno Baptist Church, 661 16th Avenue, Reno, IL 62246; or Assembly of God, 303 South Hill Street, Sorento, IL 62086.

Online condolences to the family may be left at www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com.