Kenneth Dale Yates

Kenneth Dale Yates passed away April 5, 2013 at Rogue Valley Medical Center with family at his side at the age of 80. He joins his wife, Susan Lenore Yates, who passed away November 2011. Born in Colorado June 6, 1932 as the middle son, the family worked as migrant workers. The family moved around Colorado and Idaho in the orchards before coming to California, settling in Southern California while Ken and his brothers went to junior high and high school. Ken entered into the Navy at sixteen to help during the Korean War, serving in Guam as a cook. After the Navy, Ken came back to California and found his love, Susan. They were married in December 1953 in Inglewood and welcomed their sons in 1954 and 1956. Ken and Susan moved their boys to Sacramento while he was working with Douglas Aerospace as Director. The family moved to Shingle Springs where Ken worked many jobs before working for in the District Attorney’s office in Child Support and as a Forensic Artist. He was extremely active in Boy Scouts with his sons, along with being District Executive for Golden Empire Council. While in Shingle Springs, Ken was judge for flowers at the El Dorado County Fair and active on the Fair Board, including being Fair Director. He loved gardening and taking care of his apple and cherry trees. He loved painting with oils and acrylic, along with learning to paint ceramics and wood. His pride and joy was the wooden carousel that he carved and built himself with suggestions from his grandchildren, which he entered in the California State Fair, before he built a larger version to hold more animals. After retiring in 1988, Ken and Susan traveled and took several trips to travel across the country working on genealogy. In 1989, they found the property in Big Springs for their family. The property gave him space to build his large garden where he grew a variety of vegetables. He continued his love for flowers and had a variety of flowers around the house to enjoy. He continued to paint, learning to paint on gourds and carve walking sticks to sell, along with teaching his grandchildren about art. He helped work at his son’s bakery in Yreka and worked on the Mount Shasta Vista Fire Board. He was an active support to the Women’s Sewing Group out of Big Springs Community Church, of which Susan was a part of. He is survived by his brother Charles “Bud” Yates, wife Pat and brother Paul Wesley Yates, wife Mary, along with nieces and nephews; Don (Melissa), Cindy (Ed) Davis, Melissa (Mike) Yates, Leslie (Dave) Cliché, Sharon (Ed) Bennett, Mike, Greg (Shari) Lee and Susie (Cory) Enos and their families. He also leaves his oldest son, Dale and his wife LaVonne, grandson Kenny and his wife Maryanne, great grandchildren, Troy, Melissa, Arizona and Bryant, granddaughter Jennifer Yates, youngest son Kenneth, his wife Cheri, and their children Faith, Joy, Grace and Noble. A ‘Celebration of Life’ will be held at Grenada Berean Church on Thursday, April 18, 2013 as an open house, 4-6 PM. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local Boy Scout Council.

Kenneth Dale Yates

June 6, 1932 - April 5, 2013