Nancie Estelle (Steele) Coates

Nancie Estelle (Steele) Coates, 77, of Augusta, Michigan died peacefully in her sleep at Bickford of Portage on Sunday, October 15, 2023.

Nancie was born February 11, 1946, Flossmoor, Illinois to George B. and Estelle Steele. Nancie grew up in Flossmoor and graduated from Flossmoor High School.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Western Michigan University, where she met her husband, Ken. While she had several jobs over the years including Teaching at Hopkins Middle School, Camera Woman at Channel 41, and many years as an insurance agent, but she would tell you her most important job was raising her two beloved sons Brian and Randy.

Nancie Estelle Steele was united in marriage to Kenneth Earl Coates on May 25, 1968.   Nancie was preceded in death by her husband, Ken on December 23, 2001. Surviving are their two sons, Brian (Tammie) Coates of Richland, Randy Coates of Kalamazoo; three grandchildren, Samantha Coates, Caleb Snyder, Hayden Coates and a great-granddaughter, Remington Snyder. In addition to her husband, Nancie was also preceded in death by her parents and a brother, George.

Nancie had a love for traveling, painting and her St. Bernards, she was known in Augusta as the lady with the big dogs.  She also had a passion for volunteering.   Nancie was a member of the American Red Cross Travel Disaster Relief and locally, volunteered for the Calhoun County Family Courts to counsel disadvantaged children.   In 2019 Nancie was awarded a lifetime achievement award for her volunteering throughout the years.  She played soccer for many years, ran a marathon, backpacked Isle Royale, the Smokey Mountains, and Pictured Rocks, visited Africa twice, and scuba dived with sharks and giant Manta Rays in her 60s.   She also enjoyed painting with friends and her many adventures with her AWAC Group.  Nancie will be remembered for living her life to the fullest and her many adventures with friends and family.  She would tell us all that we are never too old to take on the next adventure.

A private service with family will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery where Nancie will be laid to rest with her husband, Ken. 

A celebration of Nancie’s life will be held at the Blue Stem Restaurant, 15579 E. Augusta Dr., Augusta, MI 49012, on Friday, November 10^th from 11am – 2pm. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. In memory of Nancie, you are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift for a girl or a boy to put under “Nancie’s tree” for local disadvantaged kids. 

Memorial contributions may also be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Kalamazoo.  https://bgckalamazoo.org/.  Please indicate in the comments in memory of Nancie Coates.

Arrangements are by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care Augusta Chapel. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.