William “Jack” Yates, the son of William Henry, Jr. and Myrtle Mae (Ridge) Yates, was born April 30, 1919 in Mound City, Missouri. Jack graduated from Mound City High School in 1937.

On October 12, 1940, Jack was united in marriage to Helen Ruth McCoy, at the Mound City Presbyterian Church. They became the parents of two sons, William Henry, III and Ridge Allen Yates.

Following their marriage Jack and Helen Ruth moved to Kansas City, Missouri where both were employed by Phillips Petroleum. On December 12, 1942, Jack enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, and served his country in the China, Burma, and India Theatre. He received his honorable discharge, as a Master Sergeant, on February 14, 1946, and for a short time operated the dry cleaners in Mound City. Jack then became a student at Tarkio College, Tarkio, Missouri, graduating in 1950, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education. They moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska, where Jack taught school for one year, and then became a student at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where he completed his Masters Degree, also in Education. They moved back to Tarkio where he taught high school. He later became the Superintendent at the Watson, Stet, and Nodaway-Holt, school districts in Missouri. He taught at Northwest Missouri State University and later became the Registrar at Tarkio College. In 1967 Jack began selling insurance for Mutual of Omaha, while also working as a Lay Minister at the Craig Presbyterian Church and Mound City Christian Church. In 1973, Jack was ordained as a Lay Pastor, at the Christian Church, leading their congregation from 1973 until 1980. Jack later sold insurance for Horace Mann and also worked as an interim and full time pastor for numerous area churches, retiring from the First Christian Church in Burlington Junction, Missouri.

Jack was a member of the First Christian Church, Burlington Junction, a member of the North Star Lodge #157 A.F. & A. M. Rock Port, Missouri, and a charter member of the Paul P. Shutts American Legion, Post #121, Mound City.

Helen Ruth passed away January 31, 1998. On September 17, 2000, Jack was united in marriage, to the second love of his life, Louise Moody at the First Christian Church. They made their home in Tarkio, where Louise faithfully cared for Jack to the present time. Jack passed away Saturday, September 27, 2008 at Northview Manor in Tarkio, at the age of 89 years.

Besides his parents and first wife, Jack was preceded in death by three brothers, Richard Eugene, Edwin Mattox and Robert Lester Yates. Survivors include his wife, Louise, Tarkio; two sons, William Henry Yates, III and his wife Jeanne, Freeman, Missouri, Ridge Allen Yates and his wife, Vicki, Mound City; one grandson, William Henry Yates, IV, Kansas City, Missouri; one stepson, James Francis Jorden, and one stepdaughter, Jennifer Arlene Cancel, both of Kansas City, Missouri; nephew, Scott Volker and his wife Sandra, and their two daughters, Metta and Kiera, all of Omaha, Nebraska, nephews Robert Yates, Omaha and Jon Yates, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

Services: 1:00 pm, Wednesday, October 1, 2008, Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio
Interment: Mt. Hope Cemetery, Mound City
The family will receive friends from 12:00 pm to 12:50 prior to the
service at Davis Funeral Home.
Memorials: Northview Manor, Tarkio
Military rites directed by Whiteman Air Force Base Honor Guard, Knob Noster, Missouri
Online condolences and obituaries at www.minterfuneralchapels.com
Services directed by Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio