Keith Davis Coates

Keith Davis Coates, 30, of Valdosta, Georgia passed away Saturday, May 13, 2023. He was born in
Hartsville, South Carolina on April 11, 1993, to Henry David Coates and Karen Lynn (Gruber)
Coates. Keith served in the United States Army for eight years and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division as a Scout/Sniper, deploying to Iraq, serving with a Joint Special Operations team and later became a Platoon Sergeant at the 101st Airborne Division. Keith earned several awards and medals such as the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and an
Armed Forces Service Medal.
As a youth Keith participated in Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He was regarded as a talented storyteller, writer, and poet. Keith enjoyed riding motorcycles and hiking through several US National Parks with his father and other family members. He had many friends he shared his life with, and was regarded as a very intelligent person, and a hard worker. He dedicated his time, love and support to friends and family, putting all his heart into everything he did. Keith spent four years with his wife, supporting her through her United States Air Force enlistment, and reluctantly enjoyed taking care of their three cats both while she was home and when she was deployed.
Survivors Include his wife Rachel Coates of Valdosta, Georgia, a son, his father and mother, David and Karen Coates and his sister Kelly Coates of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Also surviving are his father-in-law, mother-in-law and two brothers-in-law.
Funeral services were held at 5:30 PM Saturday, May 20, 2023, in the Valdosta
Chapel of Music. The family received friends one hour prior to services. Keith’s ashes will be placed in the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia at a later date. Kind words and expressions of sympathy can be left for the family at www.musicfuneralservices.com . In lieu of flowers, donations to US military veterans’ organizations, such as the Wounded Warrior Project would be appreciated. The Coates family is being served by the professional and caring staff of Music Funeral Services of Valdosta.