Doris Geraldine (Smith) Coatney, 77 years, 11 months, 18 days passed peacefully at her home in Gainesville surrounded by family on June 20th 2023.
Doris was the fourth daughter born to Fred and Ella Smith on July 2nd 1945 in Rockbridge Missouri. She attended both Brixey School Houses before graduating from Gainesville High School in 1962. After graduating, she moved to the St. Louis area for work and later married high school sweetheart, Denver Coatney, on March 21st 1964.
Doris and Denver made their home in the St. Louis area where they were blessed with two children, a son Marty born in 1966 and daughter Paula born in 1969. In 1971, the family moved back to Gainesville and later to their lifelong home on the farm. Doris made a career at Verizon and it took her to work away many places including Thayer, Warrensburg, Potosi and Columbia. After retiring in 2002, Doris was often caring for her mother, sisters, grandchildren and anyone else she could take care of. As a natural caretaker, she could never let you leave her home without asking if you had something to eat. She further took her cleaning skills to new levels by contract cleaning area businesses, most notably, Century Bank.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Denver; son Marty; daughter Paula; grandsons Nathaniel Coatney and Seth (Whitney) Miller; great granddaughters Rorie and Ella Miller; along with 3 sisters Gavaughna Smith of Gainesville, Evelee Young and husband Ralph of Mtn Home, AR, Deloris James of Gainesville; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by parents Fred and Ella Smith and one sister, Arlene Eccardt.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2023 in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home chapel, Gainesville, MO with Wayne Stewart officiating. Visitation will be Friday afternoon from 1 p.m. to service time. Burial will be in the Smith Chapel Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Smith Chapel Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.
