Sarah Yates

Sarah I. Yates
January 21, 1935 – October 5, 2013


On Saturday Oct 5, 2013, the Lord received another angel in heaven after a short, hard fought battle with an infection.

Sarah was born January 21, 1935 at home in Houston County, Tennessee to Robert and Myrtle (Bull )Spears, she lived on her family's farm until she went to work in Dickson, TN to help support her Father's legacy, the "Family Farm".

She married the love of her life Dudley M. Yates, September 24, 1955. They shared 58 years of love and life; they have three children, Bobby, Dennis and Denise, plus countless others that grew up thinking of her as a mom.

As an Air Force wife, Sarah made a home for her family in Kentucky, Alabama, Texas, Colorado and Alaska. Making friends and "family by choice" everywhere she lived.

Upon Dudley's retirement from the Air Force in 1973, the family moved back to Alaska. Sarah and Dudley eventually buildt their dream home in Salcha, Alaska. A home where friends and family could always find a cup of hot coffee or a glass of Sarah's sweet tea, along with lots of love and kind words.

Sarah was love in human form, she lived for her family; with love and kind words for others and a tune to hum as she went through out her day. A pocket full of quarters for her "little angels" to get candy from a machine.

Sarah is preceded in death by her parents Robert R. and Myrtle Bull Spears, 2 sister’s Irene Adkins and Betty Jean Ellis. One niece, two nephews and two great grandbabies.

Sarah is survived by her husband of 58 years Dudley M. Yates of Salcha, Alaska sons Bobby (Pinie) Yates of North Pole, Alaska, Dennis (Debbie) Yates of Midland, Texas and daughter Carolyn Denise (Donnie) Carson of Salcha, Alaska. Grandchildren Roseanna (Richard) Smith of Indiana, Amy (Russell) Bragg of Texas, Jennifer Babington of Tennessee, Jennie (Joe)Villegas of Louisiana, Mike (Lyndsey) Yates of Texas, Kristie Jo Yates of Alaska, Donnie (Gwen) Carson Jr. of Alaska, R. Joey Yates of Alaska, Annie (Ian Hadlock)Carson of Alaska. 17 Great Grandchildren. Brother Billy Ray (Betty) Spears, Sisters Lillie (Kenneth) Baggett, Faye (Robert) Cripps, and Patricia (Vernon) Kouns. Numerous nieces and nephews. And a long list of life-time family friends.

Visitation will be from Noon to 2:00pm on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the Nave Funeral Home in Erin, Tennessee. Service will be at 2:00 pm and burial will follow at the Tatum Cemetery near Yellow Creek.

A memorial service for Alaska family and friends will be held on Saturday, October 19 2013 at 4:00 PM at the Salcha Senior Center on Johnson Road in Salcha, Alaska. Arrangements were entrusted to Fairbanks Funeral Home & Crematory.