Joan Carolyn Coats, a teacher at La Verne’s Calvary Baptist School and Claremont resident, died on Wednesday, December 11 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 73. Services will be held Friday, January 3, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church, located at 2990 Damien Ave., in La Verne.

Ms. Coats was born on August 27, 1940 in Virginia and moved to Pomona as a child. She finally settled in Claremont with her husband Gene in 1969. Her family remembers her as a very giving woman that was always willing to help whoever needed it. She was a devote church-goer and loved the lord.

Ms. Coats taught for 50 years at various schools with 25 of those years at Calvary Baptist serving as their art and bible teacher. She was also active with the church assisting with the children’s church in her spare time and helped out where she could. She was passionate about making a difference in the lives of her students. Ms. Coats was born with a tremendous talent in her hands and her heart, always making sure to use both for the benefit of others.

With her love for creating she encouraged her children, grandchildren and students to make art. Her passion trickled into her time at Calvary Baptist in the form of helping to paint for productions and art shows that she organized. She would encourage students to present their talent for the world to see by entering her students work in the fair to be judged. In her private life she helped her grandchildren create and her personal artwork still decorates the lives of her family members.

“She was always such a giving person. She didn’t have a selfish bone in her body and she was fun to be with,” Ms. Coats’ children said. “She was one of the most awesome people and women you could know.”

Ms. Coats is survived by her husband, Gene Coats; her three children and their spouses, Lonny (Mickie); Rhonda (Curtis) and Troy (Michele). She is also survived by her sister, Veronica; and six grandchildren, Phillip, Briannah, Nathan, Wyatt, Bryce and Myles.