Dorris Diltz Coats, 83, passed on to be with her Lord on Wednesday, April 20, 2005. She was born in Merkel, Texas on March 18, 1922, to Phillip A. and Tommie Lou Diltz. She graduated from high school in Merkel and attended business college. She married Clayton Coats on April 21, 1936, in Big Spring and moved to Big Spring shortly thereafter. Dorris worked as a counselor at the Big Spring State Hospital from 1970 until her retirement in 1982. She also attended Howard County Junior College.Dorris was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Big Spring where she served as the president of the Philathea Sunday School Class and had previously attended Wesley Methodist Church.She loved her family, gardening and fishing, especially fishing for crappie in the springtime with her children.Dorris is survived by her son, Danny Coats and his wife, Barbara of Lake Cherokee, Henderson, Texas and her daughter, Sherry Stinson and her husband, Jim of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sisters, Miriam Wright of Lubbock and Mickey Winter of Abilene; one sister-in-law, Christine Diltz of Merkel; four grandchildren, James Stinson and his wife, Stacy of Dallas, Sharon Orr and her husband, Joel of Houston, Clay Coats and his wife, Kristy of Longview and Kristi Evans and her husband, Troy of Conroe; and her great-grandchildren, Tessa, Chase and Scottie all of Conroe.She was preceded in death by her parents and husband as well as an infant daughter, Jerry Sue Coats; and two brothers, Tommy Diltz and P.A. Diltz.Dorris left behind many people who loved her and who will remember her with every flower grown and every crappie caught. She taught us the true meaning of love.Visitation will be held in Big Spring on Thursday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. A visitation will also be held in Merkel Saturday morning at 10:00 AM at the Starbuck Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM at the Rose Hill Cemetery, Merkel, Texas, under the direction of Starbuck Funeral Home, with Dr. Dave Ring, minister of First United Methodist Church of Big Spring, officiating.Memorials may be made to Home Hospice, 111 E. 7th St., Suite A, Big Spring, Texas 79720.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
