On May 16, 2010 Leo Albert Coates surrounded by family left his earthly home to go to his heavenly home after a sixteen month fight with cancer.

Albert was born to Leo & Ada Coates at the Dryden Red Cross Hospital in Dryden, ON. on Feb. 21, 1940.  Albert attended Cairnbrogie and Dryden high schools.

On September 10, 1960 Albert married the love of his life Judy Larson. They were blessed with two children Marty and Kim, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren followed.

Albert enjoyed all time spent with family and friends especially the time with his grandchildren and the many fishing trips with his daughter Kim and granddaughter Candace last summer.

Albert, or Ab, as his co-workers and some of his family called him, loved life and lived it to the fullest. He worked for forty years at the Pulp & Paper Mill in Dryden and for most of that time as a digester operator. Albert and Judy owned and operated Coates Grocery and Trailer Park in Minnitaki for thirteen years. Albert also drove school bus for Raymond Pateman.

Albert was a people person so after his retirement from the mill and the store he worked as a maintenance man at Totem Lodge and Temple Bay Lodge, and moved vehicles around for Enterprise Car Rentals. Albert was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and also volunteered to deliver meals on wheels.

Albert had a wonderful outlook on life. His eyes saw the beauty in the world and the people in it. He loved to hunt and fish. It didn’t matter if he was catching anything or not. He loved the serenity and beauty of the outdoors. He loved music and dancing, both regular and square dancing. He loved to travel, seeing new sites and meeting new people. He could strike up a conversation with anyone he met.

His family meant everything to him. He always wanted what was best for them. Albert would give up things for himself to make sure his family had what they needed. He was always quick to help family, friends and even total strangers. Material things were not important to Albert. What someone or something looked like on the outside didn’t matter to him. He always looked deep inside and often found the beauty the rest of us had missed.

His positive attitude was so helpful to himself and everyone around him. He also had a marvelous sense of humor. Even when he was so sick he would find a way to make you laugh.

Albert will be sadly missed by his loving wife Judy of almost 50 years; his son Martin Albert (Charlotte) and daughter Kimberly Carolynn Grolway; five grandchildren Amanda, Candace (Russell), Courtney, Aaron and Charles; two great grandchildren Caleb and Chayse; his sister-in-law and brothers-in-law Darlene Coates, Linnea Johnsrud, Lillian Brown, Edna and Graham Calvert, Helen Ming, Audrey Larson and Jerry and Joanne Larson. Many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends will also miss him.

Albert was predeceased by his father and mother Leo and Ada Coates; his two brothers Robert and Wilfred; his grandparents Robert and Ella Coates and Leon and Nellie Gour; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Hilda Coates, Tom Johnsrud, Clifford Brown, Roy and Marge Larson, Gunnar and Ruby Anderson, George Ming and Lome Larson and his mother-in-law and father-in-law Annie and Isadore Larson.

A Memorial Service was held May 19th at 1:00 p.m. at Our Saviour Lutheran Church with Pastor James Wood officiating.  If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Tamarack House or to Our Saviour Lutheran Church Building Fund through the Stevens Funeral Home P.O. Box 412 Dryden, ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be emailed sympathycard@shaw.ca subject: Coates