March 25, 1934 – May 18, 2024
Jay Cleon Coates passed away in the early morning hours of May 18, 2024, at Moab Regional Hospital. He was 90 years old.
Jay was born March 25, 1934, in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, the son of Max F. Coates and Lena (Brewer) Coates. Jay was the fifth of six children and grew up on the family farm. From the time he was a young boy, Jay worked for his uncle managing herds of cattle and sheep. He spent many cold days and even some nights on a horse during this time—a period that undoubtedly shaped his work ethic.
Jay was a 1952 graduate of North Sanpete High School in Mt. Pleasant. As a young man, Jay became an excellent marksman and a fine guitar player. Leaving farming and ranching behind, he worked as a truck driver for a time. He also learned to operate several types of heavy equipment, a skill that would serve him well for the rest of his life. In the late 1950s, a friend introduced Jay to Donna Allen in Salt Lake City. Jay and Donna were married on December 13, 1959, starting their journey together.
In 1963, work opportunities drew Jay and Donna to Moab and the couple soon settled in the area. By that time, they were a complete family of four—Jay, Donna, and children Shelly and Monty.
During the mid-1960s, Jay founded a successful drilling company dedicated to mineral exploration. He and Donna owned and operated Coates Drilling for nearly two decades. At Coates Drilling, Jay’s employees gave him the nickname “Cowboy,” a name that continued to be used by many friends and family members throughout his life.
Throughout the 1970s and ‘80s, Jay was a member of the Moab Elks Club, where he was especially fond of the late-night poker games. He was also a member of Shriners International for some time. Jay had a passion for the game of golf, and in the 1980s he was intimately involved in the design and construction of the back nine holes of the Moab Golf Club.
Ever the entrepreneur, Jay designed and built the Spanish Trail RV Park south of Moab. Jay and Donna operated the RV park for several years before selling the park and finally retiring in the mid-1990s.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Wayne Coates, LaVar Coates, Lucille Taylor, Maxine Hill, and Marian Blackett. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Donna; daughter Shelly Coates Harker (Craig); son Monty Coates (Kelley); six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Jay loved central and southeastern Utah and he had a self-taught knowledge of the region’s geology. Jay enjoyed fishing and hunting with good friends, scotch whisky on ice, and the unique sound of music from a mandolin. It can’t be said that Jay was a big man, but to those who knew him well, his ambition, vision, and grit truly made him seem that way. He will be missed dearly.
At Jay’s request cremation has taken place and no public services are planned.
You may send condolences to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com or www.SVMC.US
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