Obituary of Jeanette Fay Coats

DOB 09/30/1941 DOD 07/03/2026 Written and provided by the family. Jeanette Fay Coats (Fay) was born September 30, 1941 in Turtle Lake, ND. She was the daughter of Edwin and Harda Brevig and one of four siblings. Fay married Wilbert E. Coats (Will) in May 1961 and they moved to Othello, WA (The Evergreen State) sight unseen for Will’s new job. They made their way west towing a U-haul trailer. When all signs of trees and green vegetation disappeared around Ritzville, WA, family lore has it that Fay insisted they stop at a gas station to make sure they were still heading the right way. Fay and Will quickly settled into life in Othello and their children Jodi Lynn and Scott Allan were born and raised there. Fay was actively involved in Othello life. She served as a Scout leader when her children were young, she was on the board of the Othello Community Museum, volunteered for the Sandhill Crane festival and was actively involved in her beloved Pilgrim Lutheran Church. In 2017 she was recognized for her lifetime of volunteer work by Othello City Council with a certificate and an honorary key to the city of Othello. After running a pre-school before her children were school-age, she worked at Soil and Crop. In 1978 she began her long career in health care when she started working at the Othello Community Hospital. She eventually served as Acting Administrator there. She loved working in health care. Shortly after she retired from the hospital she began a new chapter at Columbia Basin Health Association, where she was instrumental in creating the community newsletter, “Hometown Health” and the yearly School Calendar. She is survived by her daughter Jodi Warren (John Warren), son Scott (Joclyn Coats), grandchildren Noah and Reya Coats and step grandchildren, Jessica and Harry Warren, her sister Joan Kinn and numerous nieces and nephews. Her husband Will, parents and siblings Dennis and Judy preceded her in death. A memorial service will be held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Othello on 31 July at 11:00. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lutheran World Relief, www.lwr.org, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD21297-1061.