Biography: David Bodman Coates was born December 7, 1937, and died April 13, 2022, in the comfort of his home with his beloved canine companion Oliver at his side. He was 84 years old. David was the son of John Eastman Coates, Jr., and Anne Bodman Coates. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1959, where he was a prominent member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. After college, David was commissioned into the United States Army where he served as a training officer at Fort Ord, California. He was a proud veteran and supporter of the military. In 1962, David moved to San Francisco where he became a stockbroker. It was there that he met love of his life, Lynn Hope Craig, and married her in 1967.

The newlyweds then moved to Garden City, New York, where their oldest daughter, Amy, was born in September of 1969. In August of 1970, they moved to Little Rock when Amy was 11 months old, and Lynn was 8 months along with their second daughter, Sara. David became the Manager and Executive Vice President of Raney Securities Company, and Lynn was very, very busy with her “Irish twins.” Upon their return to Little Rock, David and Lynn quickly made many deep and timeless friendships. In 1976, David and Lynn welcomed their third daughter, Caroline. His “girls” were the light of his life and brought him much joy.

In 1988, David was appointed Manager of Arkansas Shearson Lehman Hutton offices, now Morgan Stanley, where he remained until he retired in 1999. He was active both professionally and civically, serving on the Board of Deacons at Second Presbyterian Church, and on the Board of Directors for various agencies of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Youth Home Inc. and for the Arkansas Travelers. David loved taking his little girls to Travelers games on a warm summer evening, giving Lynn a few quiet hours at home. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Country Club of Little Rock, and enjoyed the rare honor of serving as president for two terms (2001 and 2002).

David had many remarkable character traits. He was always warm and sincere when he spoke, while simultaneously being honest and direct. He never minced words and always said what he meant. He loved his family beyond measure. One of David’s favorite pastimes was traveling, especially frequent short escapes to Hot Springs, where he spent many days watching the horses run at Oaklawn. Lake Hamilton was the site of many early morning ski runs and fishing expeditions with his girls while the water was still glassy – as well as cocktail hour trips to the “Cold Dam” with both family and close friends, and later days spent teaching his grandchildren to drive the boat. He prodded them to open the throttle much more vigorously than their parents would have liked, and this always made him smile.

David and Lynn enjoyed traveling without the kids too, making their way through any ocean they could sail by cruise ship. They loved to dress to the nines and play blackjack in the ship’s casinos and in Las Vegas, where Lynn usually came out on top, and David cheered her on while losing what she won. Dressing up was the norm at the Coates household for many years – not just for church services, but airplane rides and dinner out warranted a nice outfit as well. If his girls were going to throw a rare tantrum anywhere public, they were going to be dressed appropriately for it.

David always made sure the annual August trip to Destin was highlight. A large pink inflatable whale loomed large and was pulled out beyond the sandbar for deep four-foot dives to harvest sand dollars. David loved the ocean and the lake, always relaxed and happy watching the sunset on the water with his family, cocktail in hand.

David also loved to play golf and spent many Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings on the CCLR course, warning other golfers that his group was on the way with a boisterous “Playing through!” It is of great comfort to know that David has played through to the other side, and he is at peace after having lived full life well-loved by his family and friends.

In August of 2018, David lost his life partner of over 51 years. Lynn. They experienced a wonderful life together and she was in his thoughts throughout his remaining years. David and Lynn had a deep faith, and David knew that he would reunite with Lynn again when he passed. We can all clearly hear her calling him “David Bodman?” and him answering “I’m here, Lynnly.”
David is predeceased by his loving wife Lynn Craig Coates and his sister Alice Coates Hall. He is survived by his daughters Amy Trippner (Andreas) of Little Rock, Sara Myhre (Wesley) of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Caroline Coates-Nelson (Russell) of Branson, Missouri; three grandchildren, Elise Anne Stockinger, Franklin David Myhre, and Joseph Howard Myhre.

Memorials may be made in his name to Grace Presbyterian Church, Youth Home Inc., or the Wounded Warrior Project. A service will be held on Friday, June 3, at 11 a.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church, 9301 North Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock. Service arrangements are entrusted to RuebelFuneralHome.com