James Mclaurin Yates

JAMES MCLAURIN YATES James McLaurin Yates, age 75, of Waco died Thursday, July 31, 2003 at a local hospital. Services will be held at 11:30am Saturday, August 2 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Arrangements are through Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, 6101 Bosque Blvd. Mr. Yates was born March 7, 1928, to Hazel Spencer Yates and A. Grady Yates. He attended Waco schools, Sanger Ave., North Jr. High School and Waco High School and then graduated from Kemper Military Academy in Missouri in 1946. While there he was an outstanding football player. For three summers, he attended Culver Naval Academy, graduating in 1945. He graduated from Baylor University with a business degree in 1950. For a short time he was employed by William Cameron Co. in Post, Texas. He joined the Air Force as a lieutenant and was stationed on Okinawa. After his return to Waco he was employed by Texas Coffin Co. Eventually he started his own very successful business, Recreation Products Marketing, retiring when R.P.M. was sold in 1985. He was a longtime member of Waco Rotary Club, Hedonia Club and Ridgewood Country Club. He was recognized as outstanding Texan in 1976. Survivors include daughters, Katharine Curry and husband, Jim, Alice Petrich and husband, Edward, and Sandra Hamblin and husband, Pierce; son, James M. Yates, Jr. and wife, Kelly; sister, Joyce Yates Brooks, husband Joe and son Dan Brooks; grandchildren, Eden, Haley, and Grady Yates, Laurin Curry, Taylor and Allison Petrich, Rachel Black, and Walker and Rebekah Hamblin; special friends, Esther Nunez, Maria Salano, and Amy and Anna Omenson. Pallbearers will be Jack Adams, Nick Klaras, Joe Johnson, Don Hall, Wilton Lanning, Morris Mebane, Dan Brooks, and Jim Curry. Memorials may be made to National MS Society, Lone Star Chapter, 8111 N. Stadium Dr., Suite 100, Houston, TX 77054-9904 or charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memory Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY