William Dallas Coats

Dr. William Dallas Coats, 84, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2023. He resided in Okemos, MI and Phoenix, AZ, with his wife. Bill was born on January 17, 1939 to Ora Jennings and Hazel Leona Coats in Lima, OH. He attended Lima Senior High where he met his beloved wife, Beverly (Reed) Coats. The high school sweethearts were going to celebrate 62 years of marriage this June. After graduation, he continued his education and received a Bachelor of Science from Ohio University, a Master of Arts in educational psychology, and a Ph.D. in research design and data analysis in education from the University of Michigan. Bill has worked with great passion and integrity to improve public education throughout his career as a school superintendent in Grosse Pointe and Kalamazoo, MI, Anchorage, AK, and Fort Wayne, IN, university professor, consultant, W.K. Kellogg foundation director, President of the Michigan Partnership for New Education, publisher, and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Leona Group, L.L.C., established in Michigan in 1996. Through The Leona Group, he was able to allow parents freedom and choice, empower teachers and staff, and promote the idea that all children can learn. One of Bill's main purposes in life was to do what he could do to improve life's chances for other people. Throughout his professional successes, Bill would always put his family first. He thrived when he was surrounded by "his people" and cherished his time with family at Torch Lake. He was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and loved his family more than life itself - He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Beverly (Reed) Coats, five daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy (Bill) Mestdagh, Christine (Dave) Warren, Camilla (Chuck) Kaess, Caraline (Kevin) Coats-Wildner, and Courtney (Adam) Schnelker, 17 grandchildren: Billy (Lauren) Mestdagh, Lindsey (Mike) Oliver, and Courtney Mestdagh; Allie (Frank) Giorgio, Max, Jack, and Abigail Warren; Freddie, Janie (Fiance Tommy Cetina), Ellie, and Caylie Kaess; Michael and Nicholas Wildner; and William, Henry, Elizabeth, and Andrew Jack Schnelker, and 1 great-grandchild, Brooks Oliver. He will be remembered for his intense efforts to help create an equal opportunity for all as well as for his deep love and value for family. Services will be held at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church on Monday, April 3, 2023 at 11:00a.m. The family will receive friends prior to the service, for visitation, at 10:30a.m. A celebration of life will follow at Grosse Pointe War Memorial. The family requests that any and all donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Alzheimer's Association, in honor of Beverly K. Coats or the American Heart Association, in memory of William D. Coats. In honor of Dr. Coats' mission to "improve life's chances", donations can also be made to the National Center for Children in Poverty. Please use the links below for any donations and share memories with the family at their online guestbook at WujekCalcaterra.com https://www.alz.org https://www.heart.org https://www.nccp.org

William Dallas Coats

January 17, 1939 - March 20, 2023