In an ever-changing world, there are few people who can be a face and presence of a small town, and Henderson County lost one of our own today, Sunday morning, March 29, 2020. Mrs. Lois White Yates who just celebrated her 107th birthday on February 21st died at her home after a long, fulfilled life.
One of two children, she was born in 1913 to the late John William “Will” and Effie White in the Ebenezer community of Henderson County. Mrs. Lois was a lifelong resident of the county, attended Scotts Hill High School and up to the year 1929 played basketball on the gym’s dirt floor. For her entire life, she took pride in reading, learning, finding new experiences and sharing her knowledge with anyone that shared her interest. For example, it was her goal to cook at least one new recipe each week and at the age of 105 she had her first manicure. In her younger years she worked at Salant and Salant, became an excellent seamstress and retired after thirty-five years. In addition to sewing for her family, countless years her sewing skills won her numerous blue ribbons and championships year after year at the local fair.
Mrs. Yates had many loves, one was her church at First United Methodist where she was a faithful and the oldest member ever of the church, and her Deborah Sunday School Class as well. But her biggest love was that of her family and everything they experienced together. It could have been the cross-country travel to research her family genealogy that dates to the 1400’s or the frequent antiquing trips or maybe it was the slumber party that she would host every year for her four granddaughters each night before Thanksgiving. As you can see, Mrs. Lois fiercely loved her family. She and her late husband, Olvie T. Yates are survived by a daughter Janice (Tommy) Patterson; five grandchildren: Carla (Andy) Becker, Cathy (Greg) Maples, Jerri Lynn (Robby) Sims, Jaclyn Burleson and Jared Patterson; there are nine great grandchildren: Rachel and Megan Becker, Macy (Nathan) Ginn, Max and Madlyn Maples and Lena, Lila, and Lona Sims. Mrs. Yates lost her daughter Joy Maness in October of 2017 and Joy’s husband, Harold in 2012. She was lovingly called “Aunt Lois” by so many nieces and nephews that spanned many generations.
Private, family only graveside services for Mrs. Lois Yates will be Wednesday at New Hope Cemetery in the Shady Hill community with Rev. Chris Haynes officiating. Because of the Covid-19 concerns, and respecting the 10 or less group size, for the safety of everyone’s family there will be no visitation or services at Pafford Funeral Home. The Yates family will hold a celebration of life service at a later date at the First United Methodist Church of Lexington. In lieu of flowers, honorariums can be directed to one of Mrs. Yates’ causes, the Debra Sunday School Class or the Food Pantry at her church. And as all of her friends and family know, as Mrs. Yates would say, “Keep on, Keeping on”.
