Dr. "Doc"

Dr. Richard Felix Coatney passed away November 11, 2012, at the age of 78, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa. Doc was born to Martin and Goldie (Faulkner) Coatney on July 23, 1934 at Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended St. Francis Xavier Grade School and Okmulgee High School, graduating in 1952. The following fall, he entered Oklahoma A & M College in Stillwater and was a member of the Theta Kappa PHI Fraternity. In 1956, he began his studies at the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (now Des Moines University), graduating in 1960. An internship at Wilden Hospital was followed by a year of post graduate work in surgery at the Osteopathic College of Medicine and Surgery.


In 1962, he served as an associate with Dr. William Nichols at Lake View. From 1963-1968 he was in private practice at Earling, Iowa. He was recruited to Anita in 1968, after the previous physician left, and was in private practice twenty-seven years. In 1995 he joined the Atlantic Medical Clinic, retiring in 2000.


Doc served as past president of the American College of General Practice, Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, Iowa Division of American College of General Practice, Iowa Society of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, Board of Directors Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association, and Medical Examiner, including Deputy Medical Examiner for Cass and Adair Counties. He was past Chief of Staff at CCMH and ACMH and Adjunct Faculty Deputy Medical Examiner.


He was a member of the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association, American Osteopathic and Iowa Medical Association, American Osteopathic Board of General Practice, and the American Academy of Family Practice, certification included American Osteopathic Board of General Practice, Diplomat of American Board of Family Practice. In 1997, he was appointed to the clinical faculty as Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Osteopathic Medicine.


He was a member of the Lions Club, Anita Chamber of Commerce, Booster Club, Anita City Council for 8 years, Medical Director of the Anita and Adair Volunteer Fire Department (30 years training EMTs), Board of Directors for Anita State Bank and Atlantic Rolling Hills Bank, physician for Little Britches Rodeo for 25 years, parish council at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Anita, Knights of Columbus 3rd and 4th Degrees, and received a service reward as coordinator of triathlon in Anita.


On June 6, 1997, he married Lana Feuring Coatney, the love of his life.


Doc was an avid outdoors man and he enjoyed the corvette rallies in Spearfish, SD. He lived life to the fullest and he was dedicated, compassionate and giving to everyone, especially as a physician. He was a very selfless man and lived for giving to others at all times.


Doc was preceded in death by his parents; 3 sisters, Irene, Maxine and JoeAnne; and a brother-in-law, John Donahue.


He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Lana of Atlantic; son Thomas (Lois) Coatney of Eden Prairie, MN; daughters, Jane (Jim) O'Connell of Chaska, MN and Dr. Ann (Ron Morrell) Coatney of Seattle, WA; step-children, Christal (Scott) Sullivan of Marne, IA and Keven (Jodi) Feuring of Carson, IA; 11 grandchildren; 2 brothers-in-law, Gary Lyons and Larry Lyons both of Perry, IA; nieces, nephew, other relatives and many friends.


A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic.


Visitation with family will be from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. with a scriptural wake service at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.


Burial will be at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 14, 2012 in the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, Iowa.


Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.