CONOVER – Joseph “Joe” Wiley Yates, Sr., 71, of Conover passed away Monday, March 28, 2011 at Catawba Valley Medical Center.
Born March 17, 1940 in Ashe County, NC, he was the son of the late Tam B. and Mildred Haire Yates. He had previously been employed with Hickory Springs Manufacturing.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.
Survivors include: Wife of 50 years – Annette Smith Yates of the home; Son – Joseph Wiley Yates, Jr.; Daughters – Natalie Yates, Lisa Courtner, Darlene Coleman, and Tammy Yates; 1 Brother; 3 Sisters; 10 Grandchildren; and 3 Great Grandchildren.
A Service of Remembrance will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Hickory. Rev. Steve Gunter and Rev. Marc Swearingen will officiate and burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home in Newton
Pallbearers will be D.J. Smith, Cody Smith, Brandon Cobb, Brandon Courtner, Ira Coleman, Tony Ellis, Lewis Wittcop and Cain Whisenant. Honorary pallbearers will be Dustin Smith, Mark Hefner and C.J. Yates. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Condolences may be sent to the Yates family at www.drumfuneralhome.com. The Yates family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home & Crematory in Newton, NC.