David Arthur Yates obituary

David Arthur Yates Obituary

Columbia, Washington, United States

April 03, 1931 - April 02, 2017

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David Arthur Yates obituary

David Arthur Yates Obituary

Apr 03, 1931 - Apr 02, 2017

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David Arthur Yates David Arthur Yates passed away April 2nd at his home in Lacey. He was preceded in death by daughter Laura Marie Yates, his parents Leon and Violet Yates, and a brother Lee Yates. Dave was born on April 3, 1931 in Kalispell, Montana, the second of ten children of Leon and Violet (McPheeters) Yates. The family farmed in Montana until moving to Spokane in the early 1940's, where Dave attended Lewis & Clark High School, graduating in 1948. The Yates family then moved to Pullman where Dave attended Washington State College and met Dolly Glenn. They were married on February 23, 1951, just before he entered the Army during the Korean War. He served at Fort Lewis, Fort Ord and Fort Sam Houston. After his time in the Army, Dave returned to WSC where he earned a Civil Engineering degree. He began working for the Washington State Department of Highways (later the Department of Transportation) in Wenatchee in 1953, moving to Seattle in 1958 and finally to Lacey in 1966. Dave retired from WSDOT in 1982 and subsequently worked for several consulting engineering firms. Dave was very active in Scouting, serving for over 60 years as a leader in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Explorer Search and Rescue. With the Boy Scouts, he led many hikes in the Cascades and Olympics as well as canoe trips on Puget Sound and in British Columbia. He attended several National Boy Scout Jamborees. He also attended World Jamborees in Alberta, Canada and near Sydney, Australia. Dave was a member of the Order of the Arrow and was awarded the Silver Beaver award for distinguished service by the Boy Scouts of America. In addition to his work in scouting, Dave was active in the North Thurston Kiwanis Club, served as Thurston County Search and Rescue coordinator for several years, and volunteered in the education programs at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge (now the Billy Frank Refuge) and the Nisqually Reach Nature Center. He belonged to and was active in the Olympia Friends Meeting (Quakers). Dave was an avid camper and hiker, and was especially proud of the number of hikes he had completed in and around Mt. Rainier National Park. He and Dolly traveled to many places in North America and around the world, visiting every continent except Antarctica. Over the years, he and Dolly also hosted exchange students from China, India, Korea, Japan and Mexico. Dave is survived by Dolly, his wife of 66 years, children Katherine McGee, Glenn Yates (wife Sue), Doug Yates and Peter Yates, eight grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers Robert, Wilbur, John (wife Mary), Dale (wife Sandy) and Larry (wife Linda), as well as sisters Pearl Wiechmann (husband Paul), Ruth Enos (husband Earl) and Marilee Martin (husband George) and sister-in-law Delphine (wife of Lee). A Celebration of Life will be held at the Olympia Friends Meeting House on Saturday, April 22 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the in memory of David A. Yates.
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