James Donald Yates

James Donald Yates, 85, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City. A visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Monday, January 23, 2023 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64138. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at St. Thomas More Parish, 11822 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri.

James was born on November 17, 1937 in his grandmother’s home in Independence, Missouri to Arthur Leonard and Alberta May (Hubbard) Yates. He attended Raytown High School  in Raytown, Missouri before he joined the United States Navy in 1954 where he was aboard the USS Randolph. On September 26, 1959, he was united in marriage to Mary J. Tarwater at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Raytown by Father Colemen. After their marriage, he worked as a roofer for a time. He later went to work as a machinist for Pitman Manufacturing until they closed and he retired in 2002 from K-Ter Imagineering.

James and Mary were members of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri for many years. They had recently joined St. Thomas More Parish.

James liked working in the garden with plants, doing yardwork, planting trees, burning wood, just spending most of his time being outdoors. He loved his dogs. After his retirement, he took care of Sean, getting him up for school and making him breakfast in the mornings. He enjoyed holidays when he got to spend time with his kids and grandkids getting to enjoy a real home cooked meal. James and Mary would always offer their home to anyone in need. James was heard bragging in his later years that “He lived the American dream!”. Some of his favorite places to visit were Colorado, Michigan, and Georgia.

James was preceded in death by his parents; his great grandson, Garrett Rembrandt Richardson; and siblings, Leonard “Lottie” Arthur Yates, Willie Florence Bellamy, Ernest “Danny” Daniel Yates, Fred Amos Yates, Gail Allen Yates, and Aletha “Nadine” Krohne. He is survived by his wife, Mary of Kansas City, MO; children, Theresa Lynn Marshall and husband Dennis of Grand Rapids, MI, James “Jamie” Donald Yates Jr. of Seattle, WA, Patrick Arthur Yates of Denver, CO, Jeannine Marie Davis and husband Les of Warrenton, MO, Julie Ann Wyzard and husband Stacy of Cleveland, MO, Timothy Ray Yates and wife Rebecca of Raymore, MO, Jeffrey Scott Yates and wife Jennifer of Rincon, GA, and Sean Nicholas Yates of Kansas City, MO; 16 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; siblings, Roberta Buckles of MS, Rita Yates of Nevada, MO, Bob Yates of Lancaster, CA, Kathy Messmer of Midland, TX, Steve Yates of Clinton, MO, Grace Colbert of Kansas City, MO, and Carol Ann Yates of Clinton, MO; and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Monday, January 23, 2023 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64138. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at St. Thomas More Parish, 11822 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri.