Ada Geraldine Yates was born January 3rd, 1931 in Kansas City, Kansas to James Pollard and Lindy Elizabeth (Zumalt) Pollard. She passed from this life on January 18th, 2017 at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, MO, surrounded by her loved ones and prayer.
As an infant, her family returned to their farm on what was known as the Devil’s Backbone near Warsaw, MO, which is now occupied by Truman State Park. Geraldine attended the one room Cornhill School, which was located on her grandparents’ property. One year, she attended the school at Racket, MO, where as a young girl, she had to cross the Grand River alone by row-boat before and after school. She told many stories of helping her father in the fields, and riding horse drawn equipment as a young child. Her mother passed away when Geraldine was only 10 years old, and she quickly became the woman of the home at a young age, caring for her brother and father by cooking and taking care of the house.
She was united in marriage to Luther Yates, and with this union, came four children, Tom, Buck, Lindy, and Jim. After the death of her husband, Geraldine spent her days working in the restaurants in town to provide for her family. She was a tough, resilient woman, who never complained. She took much pride in her children, and was always willing to go along on any project or adventure they would have going.
She was a member of the Church of the Brethren, and she loved being involved in the St. Clair County Saddle Club. She enjoyed working and volunteering at the Rodeo Arena, attending the Labor Daze Rodeo each year, and never missed until her health declined in her later years. She never forgot a friend, and would always speak to everyone she knew, no matter where she would see them.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Luther Yates, her parents James and Lindy Pollard, her brother, Claud Pollard, 4 brother-in-laws and 3 sister-in-laws, a stepson, Bob Yates, and a great-grandson Hunter Harrelson.
She is survived by son Tom Yates, and wife Jan, of Cheyenne, WY; son Bill (Buck) Yates, and wife Diana, of Lowry City, MO; daughter Lindy Berry and husband Rick, of Springfield, OH; and son Jim Yates, and wife Alison, of Osceola, MO; twelve grandchildren: Travis Yates, Sarah Cook, Christopher Harrelson, Eric Harrelson, Brandon Harrelson, April Berry, Dustin Yates, Tim Yates, Reihanna Yates, Will Yates, John Chamberlain, and Jodie Yates; seven great grandchildren: Hunter Cook, Peyton Harrelson, David Keelser, Dorian Keelser, Drake Berry, Jasmine Yates-Frieszell, and Chalindria Fulkerson; a beloved sister-in-law, Lorraine Yates, several nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Leave a Reply