Doris Geraldine Coatney, 77

Funeral services for Doris Geraldine (Smith) Coatney, 77, of Gainesville, were held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2023, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home chapel in Gainesville with Wayne Stewart officiating. Visitation was Friday afternoon from 1 p.m. to service time. Burial was in the Smith Chapel Cemetery.

She died June 20, peacefully at her home in Gainesville surrounded by family.

Doris was the fourth daughter born to Fred and Ella Smith on July 2, 1945, in Rockbridge. She attended both Brixey schoolhouses 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 21, 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, of the family home; son Marty; daughter Paula; grandsons Nathaniel Coatney and Seth Miller and his wife Whitney; great-granddaughters Rorie and Ella Miller; three sisters,  Gavaughna Smith of Gainesville, Evelee Young and husband Ralph of Mountain Home, Arkansas and 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 who died May 2, 2023. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Smith Chapel Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.