Stella Yates

Stella O. Yates, 85, of Keithsburg, died Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, at Mercer County Hospital, Aledo. Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Keithsburg First Christian Church. Burial is at Greenmound Cemetery, Keithsburg. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the church. Dennison Funeral Home, Aledo, is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to Keithsburg First Christian Church. She was born Dec. 10, 1923, in New Boston, daughter of William and Lottie McPherren Brown. She married Morgan O. "Buck" Yates Nov. 24, 1942, in Kahoka, Mo. He preceded her in death in February 1976. Mrs. Yates enjoyed being a mother and homemaker. Stella kept busy by reading, painting by numbers, playing cards, feeding the birds, going to card club and doing puzzles. She especially loved to watch her grandkids play ball. Survivors (and spouses) include her two daughters, Donna (Walt) Howard and Loretta Yates, both of Keithsburg; two sons, Durward (Dawn) Yates, Secor, Ill., and Dennis (Kathy) Yates, Monmouth; 10 grandchildren, Dana Brobston, Kae Stevens, Denise McCampbell, Donnie Yates, Randi Jo Schaffer, Wendy Howard, Jason Yates, Holly Griffin, Tony Foutch and Cassandra Foutch; four stepgrandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; seven stepgreat-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; great-grandson,Zackary Stevens; and nine brothers and sisters.