Norman Coates

A good man, a fine husband, a great father and grandfather, and one of the kindest men you could hope to know in your lifetime passed away Saturday, December 15, 2012. Norman Coates was 93 years of age. Norman was born July 20, 1919, in Shildon, County Durham, England, the third son of Thomas and Amanda Coates. He was made fatherless at the age of six months by the tragic railroad death of Thomas Coates. His mother Amanda never remarried, raising three boys on her own, refusing offers of charity from the Northern Railway, and ensuring her boys received a good education, music lessons, and became skilled tradesmen. Norman met the love of his life, Maura Murphy, on the Isle of Wight, England, following the Second World War, and thus began the lifelong courtship between the Protestant Northern Englishman and the Irish Catholic lass. With two boys in tow, the Coates family moved to Galt, Ontario in 1954, later moving to Preston, where Norman obtained employment from the Babcock and Wilcox Company, retiring in 1984. Norman and Maura became enthusiastic members and executives of the United Kingdom Club of Cambridge, where they indulged their love of music and dancing while keeping alive memories of the England they cherished. A healthy, clean-living man, Norman was an excellent athlete in his youth. His greatest happiness, though, came from the joy of having all the generations of his family around him as they celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and holidays in the house he and Maura were to share for much of the 64 years of their marriage. Norman was predeceased by his father Thomas, mother Amanda, older brothers Harry and Sid, and daughter-in-law Lynda. He is survived by wife Maura, sons Al, Dave (Jane), Barry and Marty (Janet), grandchildren Mark, Chris and Amanda, so named for the feisty matriarch who raised a boy to become a much-loved man. A memorial service will be held Friday, December 21st at 10 a.m. at St. Clement's Church, Duke Street, Preston. A reception follows in the church's community hall. As per Norman's request, there will be no visitation prior to the memorial service. Donations if desired may be made in Norman's name to the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation or to the charity of your choice.