Orrin David Coates passed away suddenly Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010.

He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, but he called Stayton, Ore., his home.

Funeral services will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, at the Stayton High School football field in Stayton.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, at Chilly Cemetery in Mackay.

In lieu of flowers, Barton Football Academy Camp Scholarships have been set up in memory of Orrin at US Bank.

Following the graveside services, there will be a meal prepared in Mackay at the American Legion Hall.

Graveside services are under the direction of the Lost River Funeral Chapel in Arco.

Published in Post Register on September 19, 2010



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Orrin David Coates was born September 1, 1987 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the fourth of five children, to Tom and Kim Coates. He lived his first five years on the family cattle ranch in Mackay, Idaho.

Energetic is a simple way to describe Orrin as a little kid. He chased and mimicked his two older brothers Brandon and Gabe and older sister Kendra around the ranch, usually with some kind of ball in his hands. Like Forrest Gump, wherever Orrin was going "he was running." Whenever Orrin was playing, he was usually trying to get the best of his sister Kendra, including borrowing her bike without her permission and racing his brother Gabe on his motorcycle and ending up running Kendra's bike through the barbed wire fence, sustaining scrapes and scars which he carried with him the rest of his life.

Orrin's dad was the high school basketball coach and Orrin tagged along to many practices. During practice, he would run laps around and around and around, to the dismay of most of the players, because they could expect to hear if a four-year-old can do it, you should be able to do it. Brandon can tell you that it wasn't as easy as you would have thought to keep up with him.

In 1994, at age 6, the family welcomed Orrin's little sister, Dlanie, into the world, and soon after moved to Stayton, Oregon. Making new friends has never been a problem for Orrin. Though he left many in Idaho that would become lifelong friends, he quickly adapted to his new surroundings in Oregon, and began building friendships there.

Orrin spent his elementary years in Stayton, where his playground exploits earned him the name "Orrin the athlete." While attending Stayton Elementary, he earned numerous fitness records, which he never bragged about until his little sister Dlanie topped them. Training with, and watching his big brother Gabe compete in sports, spurred his infatuation with sports, and football in particular.

In 1999, Orrin's family relocated to Nampa, Idaho, where Orrin attended Nampa Christian Middle School. Once again Orrin adjusted well to yet another new environment and the friendships followed. His athletic gifts began to blossom in Nampa and he was determined to improve his game, so determined that he forced his 6-year-old sister Dlanie to video him throwing the football over and over. When Dlanie complained that her arms were getting too tired to hold the camera up, he simply said "Switch arms." This is where Orrin's passion for football grew to include everything Boise State. His two brothers were attending college there and he began to realize his desire to one day play on the blue.

When Orrin wasn't playing or practicing for sports, you could find him working on his new ambition, learning to play the guitar just like his big brother Gabe. Gabe imparted all of his guitar playing wisdom onto Orrin. The next day, the student became the teacher, and he's been teaching Gabe ever since.

After three years in Nampa, the family moved back to Stayton where Orrin began his freshman year at Stayton High School. He was well received by the community, his coaches and friends both old and new. Orrin's world revolved around football and friendships.

Orrin's high school years were inspirational. He always made time for everyone, old and young alike. He was respectful and he worked hard every day to be the best athlete he could be, sometimes at the expense of being the best student he could be. Orrin spent most of his high school years involved in sports, hanging out with his friends and entertaining his family on the guitar and cracking one-liners. Orrin always had to be the life of the party, he had to have center stage, and his smile lit up the room. He was someone you couldn't stay mad at, no matter how hard you tried.

He graduated in 2006 and began his college years at Idaho State University as a red shirt free safety on the football team. Orrin forged some new friendships and was reunited with old friends. He loved his time at Idaho State and being on the football team, but he was pulled in other directions. He found his way back to Stayton, where he was closer to his friends and family and was able to help with the Stayton football program. His passion to play football had not yet been fulfilled so he was given the opportunity to once again play college football at the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California. While he was there, his football days were cut short due to a back injury. Orrin returned once again to Stayton where he found a new passion in working with kids, coaching and watching his little sister become an athlete. He continued his education at Linn Benton and began working at the Stayton Middle School. He had the pleasure of being a teacher's aide for the sixth grade class.

While Orrin was attending Linn Benton, he joined the Barton Football Academy staff and found himself earning a living doing what he loved most, learning and teaching football. Working with the Academy gave Orrin a new perspective about himself and life. He found another passion and applied the drive that he has always shown for everything he takes on. He discovered what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to coach kids and help them realize the football dreams that he was unable to completely fulfill in his youth.

Orrin passed away in his sleep September 16, 2010. Orrin had great ambitions and future plans that he was excited to share with everyone he met, but God had other plans for him and called him home. Through the various paths of his life, he carried his friendships with him. All of the relationships he forged transcended boundaries here on earth. Orrin's love for Jesus and his family cannot be put into words, only to say his involvement, generosity, companionship, and genuine heart-felt concern were unsurpassed.

Orrin is survived by his mother and father Tom and Kim of Stayton; brothers Brandon and wife Summer and their two children, Peyton and Addison, of Boise, Idaho, Gabe and his wife Kristina, of Challis, Idaho; sisters Kendra, of Sublimity, Oregon and Dlanie, of Stayton, Oregon; grandmother Lola Coates of Mackay; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by grandparents Kenneth and Marjory Strickler and grandfather Byron Coates.

Funeral services were held September 20 at the Stayton High School football stadium. More than 1,200 people were in attendance including past and present football players, as well as coaches and young athletes that Orrin influenced in his short lifetime. He was buried at the Chilly Cemetery.