James Edward Yates – Obituary

James Edward Yates, 89, of Huntsville passed away peacefully at Huntsville Hospital on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.

Mr. Yates was born December 22, 1923 in Gadsden, Alabama to Luther Washington Yates and Ruth Estelle Garrett and was the oldest of 7 children. He married Margaret Elizabeth Acker in June, 1942. In 1943, he joined the Army and served in World War II in Guadalcanal, Leyte and Japan.

For 25 years, Jim worked with NASA as a quality control specialist on the Saturn rockets and the early space shuttle projects. He retired from NASA in 1981 and pursued his love of traveling the country in his motor home.

He was an active Mason for over 50 years and was a past master of Solar Lodge # 914. For many years, he was a member of Cahaba Shrine Temple in Huntsville and made numerous trips to transport children to the Shriner Hospitals in both Greenville, SC and Cincinnati.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wives, Margaret Acker Yates, Lois Evelyn Baker Yates, and Aileen Tippett Carter Yates. He is survived by his and Margaret’s sons James A. Yates and wife Mary of Huntsville; and Donald G. Yates and wife Patricia of Fort Pierce, Florida; stepdaughter Lanita Carter Cusack and husband Terry of Madison; grandsons Andrew Yates and Daniel Yates, both of Fort Pierce, Florida; four great grandchildren; and special friend and companion, Sheila Wilburn of Decatur.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday at Spry Funeral Home in Huntsville. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 1:00 pm at Oak Park Baptist Church with the Rev. Alan Crawford officiating. A viewing will be held for one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Gadsden following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Oak Park Baptist Church or Solar Lodge # 914 in Huntsville.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Redstone Village Grandview Assisted Living for their loving care and support over the past three years.