Extracted from The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX)
Saturday, February 27, 1954

Wake Coats, Veteran Peace Officer, Dies

Wake H. Coats, 78, of 728 North Beckley, a veteran Dallas County peace officer, died Friday in a Dallas hospital following a long illness. He was born near Mesquite and in his early life was a farmer in the Mesquite community.

He became a deputy sheriff while Arthur Ledbetter was sheriff and served for about thirty years as a peace officer.

He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Coats, pioneer settlers of the Mesquite community. He was a Methodist and a Mason.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Barney C. Coats; and one daughter, Mrs. Brittie Stinson, all of Dallas.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Saturday at the Anderson Clayton Funeral Home in Mesquite. Dr. Wallace Bassett, pastor of Cliff Temple Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will be at Long Creek Cemetery near Mesquite.