Donald William Yates' Obituary
Donald William Yates, Sr.
May 12, 1932-January 24, 2018
Donald William Yates, our loving father, grandpa, great-grandpa, husband, brother and friend was born at home in Park City, Utah to William Lyman Yates and Stella Meryl Lewis, May 12th, 1932. He died at home in Sandy, Utah, January 24, 2018.
Dad grew up mostly in Park City and graduated from Park City High School. During that time, he loved to do the things kids do with their parents and siblings. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing and learning about repairing cars from his dad. He raised rabbits and loved his dog Tippy.
His first job was in grade school for the Park Records Newspaper making linotype, or letter blocks used to print the paper. Later, he learned the art of shoveling for Park City. Another job he had was putting bottles in a bottle washer and delivering products for Park City Bottling Works.
The work ethic he developed during his youth served him throughout his entire life. Dad worked hard to provide for his family.
He joined the Air Force during the Korean Conflict in 1951. It was while in the Air Force he realized he enjoyed learning and, in his words, “was quite good at it”. He especially liked learning about mechanics and hydraulics. In the Air Force, he was assigned to be an instructor. He moved around to several bases teaching officers, captains, colonels and all who flew a C-119 Flying Boxcar about the hydraulics of that plane. At the end of his enlistment he was a Non-Commissioned Officer.
Dad met our mother, Geraldine Snow after he left the service while paling around with his brother, Daryl. Dad and Mom were married in Coalville, Utah. The wedding license cost him 50 cents. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. They bought a small home in Chesterfield, Utah, which is now part of West Valley City. It was there they added 7 children to their family.
He moved our family to Sandy, Utah in 1967. While building the house and finishing the main and upstairs floors, to make it easier and more cost effective, we lived in the basement. There our family met and enjoyed many cherished lifelong friends.
In 1974, Mom and Dad started welcoming foster children into our home. Mom said it was because he was such a great dad. She thought we should share his fatherhood skills with those that needed him most. From 1974 to 1979 we had over 40 foster children move in and out of our home. Mom was right, he was a great dad.
Dad and Mom were all about family. They took their children and grandchildren on road trips all over the United States. They wanted all of us to ‘experience America’.
In 1988 Dad and Mom made the most earthly family-oriented decision ever! They bought some property in Duchesne County. It was enough property that their whole family had room to hike, ride ATVs, snowmobile and be far away from the rest of humanity. He and our family spent hours and hours playing and building our cabin on that property.
Dad loved building the cabin, making roads at the cabin, jumping snowmobiles at the cabin, driving ATV’s at the cabin, playing pinochle at the cabin, cutting down trees at the cabin, buying heavy equipment for the cabin, watching the leaves turn at the cabin, making friends with the neighbors at the cabin, encountering wildlife at the cabin, and most of all playing and working alongside his children and grandchildren at the cabin.
Dad loved serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mostly by taking his children’s and grandchildren’s youth groups and scouts to the cabin. All youth that spent time with him called him Grandpa Yates. During one of these events at the cabin, a young Mia Maid girl stated, “Grandpa Yates, this isn’t your cabin, it’s Heavenly Father’s cabin. He shares you and your cabin with us.” He agreed. Dad shared his time, talents and possessions with anyone and everyone.
On October 26, 2011 he married Pamela Stevenson and spent the rest of his earthly life with her. He loved her and the companionship and great times they shared during the last few years of his life.
Dad is survived by his wife Pam, siblings, Glade (Norma), Bob (Debbi), Darlene Padilla (Bill), Bruce (Dawn), Julie Harash (Az), and sister-in-law, Marydon.
He is also survived by his numerous posterity:
Don and Marianne Yates
Wendy and Lorin Hardy
Brynne, Elsa, Olivia, Jane and Weston
Wayne and Ashley Yates
Ella, Avery, Tatum and Eden
Kyle and Brittanee Yates
Salem, Jadey, Cache and Tucker
Kira and Matt Cox
Jett, Kellen and Jemma
Evelynn and Todd Morrison
Trew and Steel
Byron and Shelby Yates
Bridger
Jaren Robert Yates
Michelle and Bruce Fordham
Michal and Joe Everett
Nora, Ryan, and Alison
Zach and Kristen Henderson
Sophie and Max
Colton Henderson
Hilary Henderson
Leslie and Travis Nicholson
Kaylee, David and Samantha
Ben and Robyn Fordham
Lindsey Fordham
Gary and Tauna Yates
Natalie and Casey Green
Kaden, Kambria
Kaleb and Heather Yates
Jenna, Daxton, Tate, Walker
Lindsey and Jason Davidson
Kye, Zayden, AnDee
Kindra and Nick Wittwer
Gavin, Madison, Teagan
Chantelle and James Pace
Jaxon, Karson, Tayson
Jeanette and Darwin Bradfield
Danielle and Collin Jensen
Kyler, Alexis, Ashton, Rylie and Ellie
Haylee and Blake Roush
Jaxen, Tyson and Derek
Tala and Quinton Brown
Josiah and Gabby Bradfield
Blake and Carolee Yates
Jacob and Maria Yates
Hayden, Mason
Kaytlin and Spencer Wiggerman
Austin
Lonny and Gayla
Letecia and Erik Olsen
Dabney and Mark Harris
William and Preelie
Wayndon and Vali Veater
Madilyn, Maylee, and Kyson
Raddison and Julie Veater
Shanda and Jake Sorensen
And 3 more great grands on the way.
Preceded in death by his parents, his best friend and wife, Geraldine, son, Darren Lee, son-in-law, Paul David Henderson, brothers, Daryl and Marvin and grandson, Matthew David Henderson.
Our family would like to express our deep gratitude to Pam for the great times he shared together during the last few years of his life.
Funeral services to be held Saturday, January 27th, 11:00 am, at the LDS Chapel, 237 East 9800 South, Sandy, UT. A viewing will be held Friday, January 26th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and on the 27th from 9:30 - 10:30 pm prior to the service at the church. Interment at Redwood Memorial Estates.
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