Funeral Services for HB Coats, age 95, of Sherman, Texas will be held at North Park Baptist Church on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 1 p.m. under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home. Burial will follow at West Hill Cemetery. David Murphy will be officiating. Masonic Rites will be held in honor of Mr. Coats.

H.B. passed away Wednesday, December 20, 2023.

H.B. was born June 22, 1928, the son of Homer B. Coats and Cordellia Huse. H.B was born in Gunter, Texas and his family moved to west Texas in the Lubbock area during his childhood. They would eventually move back to the Savoy Sherman area. Being raised on the farm, he was plowing fields and driving a tractor at a young age. H.B. was allowed to have a driver's license at the age of 13 because he lived on a farm so that he could drive food and cotton to town. It was war time (WWII), and exceptions were made. He was very smart in school and was allowed to skip grades. He graduated high school at the age of 16 in 1944.

H.B. worked for Hardwicke-Etter, Line Materials, IBM, and retired from LOF in 1990 as Shift Foreman. Those who knew H.B. knew he was a problem solver, avid fixer, and had several patents where he had worked. His creativity had no end. H.B. was a 32 Degree Mason and served as Chaplain to the Travis Lodge 117 AF&AM in his later years.

H.B. and Rosemary were married on December 20, 1969. He passed away on their anniversary. They are now reunited after spending many happy years together.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary Coats, sisters May "Cricket" Eldredge and Velma Hines, brothers Paul Coats and Ossie Coats, and son Neiman Brett Coats.

He is survived by daughter Leslie Coats Pratt of Sherman, sons Christopher Smith and wife Jane of Frisco and Martin Smith of Sherman, grandchildren Kayla Buccino and husband Chris of Frisco and Harley Pratt of Sherman, and two great-grandchildren to whom he was so very proud, Aluna and Sofia Buccino of Frisco. Niece Peggy Davis of Ft. Worth and several great nieces that are very dear to him.

Pallbearers will be Masons from the Travis Lodge 117 AF&AM.

The family will receive friends at Waldo Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Online guest register can be signed at www.waldofuneralhome.com