Loss

I got the news yesterday that a very dear friend of mine from Juneau died last night in a fishing accident. We met in the 7th grade at Juneau Christian School. He quickly became a great friend. He was my first crush after moving to Juneau... He asked me to my junior prom and I turned him down to go with another friend of mine who ended up ditching me to go get drunk and stoned, so Toby hung out with me.... We went to the same church for many years... I know he is with the Lord right now, but I am devastated. He just got married less than 6 months ago. He was an avid outdoors-man, hunter, fisherman, etc. So full of life.....
Former Juneau resident perishes in Thorne River
A former Juneau resident died in a fishing accident on Prince of Wales Island Tuesday.

Greg Wilkinson of the Alaska State Troopers says they were notified at about 6 p.m. of a drowning in the Thorne River at Thorne Bay.

He says responding Troopers learned that 28 year old Toby Coate attempted to cross the river to stretch a net for subsistence fishing.

He became tired in the cold water and lost hold of the net. Wilkinson says he went under, came up once, but went under again and did not resurface.

People on the shore went in to the river, found him, and pulled him to shore.

Emergency medical technicians who were called to the scene attempted to resuscitate him without success.

He was pronounced deceased at about 6:45.

Coate is the son of Ken and Barbara Coate of Juneau. He has two sisters, Amanda and Katy, who also reside in Juneau.

He was married earlier this year.

Coate and his wife Emily decided to reside in Thorne Bay. They had partnered with a local mill to start a new company called Goose Creek Log Cabins.

Coate attended the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau and at one time was the student body president.

He studied Marine Biology.

Please keep his family in your prayers.