Celebration of the life of Cecil Chloe Yates

Cecil Chloe (Williams) Yates passed from this life on Saturday, November 30, 2013, at the age of 104.

She was born in a farm house in Mercer County, near Mt. Moriah, Missouri, on July 31, 1909, to Oliver Floyd Williams and Clemma Paralee (Cookman) Williams. She grew up on the farm and on September 10, 1928, was united in marriage to Martin Luther Yates. They purchased a farm in Zion Township where they resided until 1941, when they moved to Kansas City, Mo. On April 9, 1933, they were blessed with their only child, Bonnie La Verle Yates. In Kansas City Cecil worked at Sears Roebuck to pay for advanced education and on August 19, 1947, graduated as a Doctor of Chiropractic from the Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City. Due to her exceptional skill and knowledge she was immediately hired as a teacher at the college. In 1956, their daughter was married to a career Naval Officer, Gale A. McKinney. The Yates continued to live in Kansas City until 1972, when they moved back to the farm they owned in Mercer County. They were now able to travel to many areas of the country to visit their daughter's family and grandchildren who moved frequently due changes in Navy assignments. They took great delight in celebrating traditional country Christmas holidays on the farm with their three grandchildren and having them during summer school vacations. Cecil and Luther were always active in the Methodist Church in Mt. Moriah and she taught Adult Sunday School Classes for over 20 years. On January 17, 1983, Luther passed away. Cecil continued to live on the farm for 13 years when she moved to John Knox Village at Higginsville, Mo. In 2003, Cecil came to Towanda, Kansas, to live with her daughter and son in law and be near her grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She continued to reside there until passing.

Cecil devoted her entire life to the welfare and care of others. She was the most selfless and giving person to all who knew her. On the farm she and Luther raised big gardens to help family members and neighbors. She was always there to care for all in the community who were in need. She actively supported her family, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Even in her last years with the frailty and feebleness of age, her main concern was not to be a problem or burden to her family and care providers, more concerned about them than herself. Many decades ago she had made her peace with God and was ready to go when called.

Cecil was preceded in death by her husband, sister and daughter.

She is survived by son in law, Gale McKinney; granddaughter, Bonnie Gale Crane and husband Steve of Portland, Oregon; grandson, Gregory and wife Paula of Park City, Kansas, grandson, Gerald McKinney and wife Vicki of Rose Hill, Kansas; great-granddaughter, Shannon Tenbrink of Derby, Kansas; great grandsons, Jarl Moreland, Reuben Moreland, Geoffrey McKinney, Gary McKinney, Jonathan Crane; great-great grandsons, Luke Perrin and Clement Silvers and great-great granddaughters, Abigail Rene' Tenbrink and Caroline Hazel Moreland.

Visitation will be held at Dunsford Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 3, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral service will be Wednesday, December 4, at 2:00 p.m. also at Dunsford Funeral Home. An additional visitation will be held at Stoklasa Memorial Chapel in Cainsville, Missouri on Thursday, December 5, from 6-8 p.m. Interment in Hamilton Cemetery on Friday, December 6, at 10:00 a.m. in Mercer County, Missouri.

A memorial has been established with The Salvation Army in care of the funeral home.

Dunsford Funeral Home & Crematory,
201 East Fifth Avenue, Augusta, Kansas 67010, 316 775-6363, www dunsfordfh.com