David Coats

David Coats passed away peacefully at the age of 84 at home on April 6th, 2025 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. We’re grateful he was surrounded by his loving family.

David was born on July 4th, 1940, in Wolf Point, Montana, to Severine “Bunny” Scott Coats and Arthur Henry Coats. He loved his brother and sisters; Arthur, Vonda, Eva, and is survived by Joan, age 99.

David always had an entrepreneurial spirit, starting with his successful 7 day a week paper route. Regularly reminiscing about the colorful characters he met early in life. David always had a strong work ethic, earned in the strawberry and bean fields of Oregon and Washington. He continued working hard at Longview Fiber, working full time and attending college part time. Always striving to grow, he worked for Pay n’ Pak, a chain of home improvement stores. David seized an opportunity to purchase two stores in Utah and grew it to a chain of thirteen stores, called Samons, spanning three states. David then moved on to a successful career in commercial real estate and, after retirement, turned his passion for aviation into yet another business adventure.

Family was equally important to David, a devoted husband and father of 6 children and 12 grandchildren. He married Christine Luell on September 1, 1973. David and Chris have two children, Ryan (Heidi Johnson) and Brittany (Jon DiPaolo). David has four children from his previous marriage to Elaine Heartley. Karen (Brian Legate), Derek (Rachelle Enquist) and preceded in death by his sons, Kevin and Scott.

The family wants to thank Intermountain Health and especially his Oncologist, Dr. Andrew Pellatt, and his remarkable care team. In addition, our sincerest gratitude to the team at Symbii Hospice and to Visiting Angels, who all showed incredible care and compassion for David.

A viewing will be held on Friday, April 11th, from 10:00 am to Noon at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Interment will be at Bountiful Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in David’s name to the following cancer research charities: Lustgarten Foundation, https://lustgarten.org/, or American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/.