Derrick Austin Coates Obituary (1987 - 2019)

Derrick Austin Coates, 32, of Baker City, Oregon passed away on August 5, 2019, near Baker City, Oregon. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2019, at 4:00 PM at the Baker Elks Lodge #338 with Military and Elks Honors. The Elks Drum and Bugle Corps will also be present to honor Austin. Following the service, a reception will be held at the Elks. Austin was born on June 18, 1987 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina to Austin W. Coates and Cindy L. Nordquist. He attended Irmo High School in Columbia, South Carolina and graduated in 2005. After high school, he served 6 years in the United States Navy where he attended Naval Nuclear Power School. Following his service in the Navy, Austin was a student at Blue Mountain Community College and Eastern Oregon University. On July 3, 2017, Austin married Charlie Thomas in Baker City, Oregon. He enjoyed the outdoors, reading, volunteer work, Drum and Bugle Corps, history, and he loved sushi. He was a member of the Baker City Elks, an officer with the Baker Eagles, a chaplain at the VFW and a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps. He was proud to have received a National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy "E" Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal and many other certifications, awards and accomplishments. He was a 4.0 student and took pride in his work. Survivors include his wife, Charlie Coates; son, Fawkes Coates; parents, Jerry and Cindy Endicott; parents-in-law, Charles and Linda Thomas all of Baker City, Oregon; his father, Austin Wayne Coates of North Powder, Oregon; brother, Brandon (Wendi) Coates of Salem, Oregon; brother, Ryan (Jessica) Hall of Junction City, Oregon; stepbrother, Kyle (Collette) Endicott of San Diego, California; and brother-in-law, Jeremiah Thomas of Boise, Idaho. He is also survived by his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. He was joined in heaven by his unborn baby. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fawkes Coates Education Fund through Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.