Love Pearl Yates 'lived up to her name' | Passages | The Journal of the San Juan Islands

Love Pearl Yates ‘lived up to her name’ | Passages

Love Pearl Yates was born Nov. 14, 1931 in Dixon, Mo., and died Dec. 27, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. She was the oldest child of Gayle Thomas and Love B. Parker. She graduated as valedictorian of Dixon High School in 1949 and began teaching at the age of 19 in her hometown of Dixon. She was a member of Alpha Phi social sorority at Drury College in Springfield, Mo., and in 1976 graduated from Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas, with a master’s degree in educational counseling. She completed her career as special education director at Northwest ISD, Justin, Texas, in 1988.

January 3, 2011 5:26 pm

Love Pearl Yates was born Nov. 14, 1931 in Dixon, Mo., and died Dec. 27, 2010 in Arlington, Texas.

She was the oldest child of Gayle Thomas and Love B. Parker. She graduated as valedictorian of Dixon High School in 1949 and began teaching at the age of 19 in her hometown of Dixon. She was a member of Alpha Phi social sorority at Drury College in Springfield, Mo., and in 1976 graduated from Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas, with a master’s degree in educational counseling. She completed her career as special education director at Northwest ISD, Justin, Texas, in 1988.

After retirement, she and her husband, Richard Julian Yates, enjoyed many years of traveling, visiting with family and friends, and serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She and Richard were married Sept. 7, 1974 in the Manti Temple, Manti, Sanpete, Utah.

One of their first stops in retirement was a three-year visit to Friday Harbor. They were the resident managers of Islands West Retirement Center (now the Best Western). They made many friends here, both at their church and in the community.

Love Pearl was a loving mother, grandmother, and wife who truly lived up to her name.

Survivors: Husband, Richard J. Yates; sons, Gayle B. (Cass) Rollins and Joel D. (Kristina) Rollins; daughter, Connie L. (Joseph) Mendoza; granddaughter, Ava M. Rollins; brothers, George J. (Glennis) Parker and Norman L. (Sharon) Parker; stepdaughters, Becki (Dee) Didriksen, Betty Cox, Carrie (Greg) Nicholas, and Bari (Paul) Murdock; nine stepgrandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren, and extended family and friends.

Funeral and service: A memorial service was held on Dec. 30 at their church in Arlington, Texas with more than 200 people in attendance. And she was buried at the DFW Veterans Cemetery on the following day.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, if friends and family wish, take your family or friends out to dinner or contribute to a charity of your choice, or make a donation to the Community Hospice of Texas-Arlington, 6100 Western Place, Fort Worth, TX 76107.

— Family of Love Pearl Yates