July 18th, 1987 - January 27th, 2024
Gregory Lane Coates Jr., 36, of Bailey, Colorado passed away unexpectedly on January 27, 2024, in Longmont, Colorado. Lane was born on July 18, 1987, in West Monroe, Louisiana to Gregory Coates and Darla Dunn Tollefson. Nevena Arsekin and Lane became soulmates in the Colorado back-country where he stole their first kiss and Nev’s heart forever. They were married on April 14, 2018, in Houston, Texas.
LANE LIVED LIFE TO THE FULLEST!! He did everything with intense passion. His biggest passions were exploring the world with Nev, family and friends, along with rock climbing, skydiving and BASE jumping. Lane & Nev lived and loved life with each other, globe-trotting around the world pursuing each other’s passions. From motorcycles to long-boarding to slack lining to skiing and of course sky diving…they never did anything half-way. Even Lane driving his jeep down those mountain roads was a thrill. His passion didn’t just extend to his pursuits but also how deeply he loved his family and friends. His love for everything important to him was fierce!
One of Lane’s favorite quotes is “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return.” Lane was much more than an avid skydiver; he was an accomplished BASE jumper with thousands of flights. Lane was an active member of the United States Parachute Association and a renowned and respected member of the Global BASE-jumping community. He became registered BASE #1315 in the sport he helped to grow in global popularity to over 20,000 members today!
Lane was also a multi-talented musician starting in his teens learning violin & cello and later the harmonica, keyboard, saxophone, acoustic, electric and classical guitar. Most recently, Lane began learning and playing the Kora, a long-necked harp lute of the Mandinka people.
Lane’s career started with Skydive Spaceland where he was a certified parachute packer and aircraft maintenance technician. He then worked for Design Build Associates as a Senior Architectural Designer, Barry D. Payne & Associates as a Senior I&E Designer, PLC Construction as a Design Lead and most recently at Merrick & Company as a Senior I&C Designer II where he worked under the highest level of US security clearance on Federal nuclear services and technology projects. In fact, he won numerous awards for distinguished performance, starting in high school and more recently winning the Merrick Achievement award of excellence and distinguished performance in Nuclear Service and Technology.
Lane was preceded in death by his grandparents, Hurshel and Jimmie Frances Dunn (Pappy and Granny) and Roland Coates and Linda Greene (Papa Ro-Ro and Anda). Lane is survived by his loving wife and soulmate Nevena Arsekin; parents Greg & Heidi Coates and Darla & Scott Tollefson; siblings, Gavin Coates, Colin Coates and Colton Coates; In-Laws Sasha and Lilliana Arsekin and sister-in-law Emma Arsekin; and a long list of deeply saddened Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and countless friends. He also leaves behind his best girl Mila and Kamari, his sweet fur-babies and adventure buddies. Memorials are being planned in Houston TX and Bailey CO with details to follow.
