Sherriel Coates, 78

Sherriel D. Coates, of Portage, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2014 at her residence. She was born May 3, 1936, in Three Rivers, the daughter of the late Robert L. and Neva L. (Wheeler) Garber and was a longtime Kalamazoo area resident. On Oct. 3, 1953, she was united in marriage to Herbert “Herb” Coates. For many years she and Herb wintered in Venice, Fla. She enjoyed hunting for shark teeth on the Venice Beach and golfing. She was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Surviving are three sons, Allan (Sharyn) Coates of Grand Rapids, Mark (Theresa) Coates of Delton and Brent Coates of Portage; four grandchildren, Sydney, Lauren, Mia and Kenny; two sisters and one brother, Ledith (Max) Ambs of Lansing, Marjorie (Louis) Baima of Three Rivers and Ralph (Evelyn) Garber of Australia. The family will receive friends on Monday, July 21 from 10-11 a.m. at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Ave., where a service to celebrate her life will be held at 11 a.m. Chaplain Dianne Litynsky will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Sherriel’s memory may be directed to Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, West Michigan Cancer Center or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. For online guestbook, obituary, memories and condolences for the family please visit www.langelands.com.