Donald Allen Yates, Sr.

Donald Allen Yates, Sr., 76, of 114 Sunrise Circle, Randleman, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, August 7, 2009 at Randolph Hospital after a brief battle with lung cancer.A celebration of Life Service will be 2: 00 PM Saturday, August 15, 2009 at New Salem United Methodist Church in Randleman, where he was a member, with the Rev. Bernie Dougherty, Pastor, and the Rev. Bill Kincaid officiating. Visitation will be Friday, August 14, 2009 at New Salem From 6:30 to 8:30 PM and also following the service on Saturday.Donnie was a native of Richmond County, NC, having been born on March 31, 1933 to Clifton L. Yates and Rosa Belle Seawell Yates. He graduated from Rockingham High School in the class of 1951 and in 1952 he married his high school sweetheart, Ann Freeman, and they moved to Randolph County in 1954.Donnie worked in the grocery business from a very young age, beginning in the family grocery business in Rockingham. He loved his work and loved helping people. His last place of employment was Lowes Foods in Randleman.His parents, four brothers and four sisters preceded him in death. He leaves behind Ann, his wife of 57 years; daughters, Lynn Y. Myers and husband, Joe, of Siler City, NC and Denise Y. Estes of Denville, NJ; son, Donald Allen Yates, Jr. and wife Evelyn, of Randleman, NC. He is survived also by three sisters, Sara Y. Coley and husband, R.A., of Raleigh, NC; Hazel A. Yates and Martha Bellamy of Rockingham; one brother, Herbert Yates of Las Vegas, Nevada. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren, Jamie H. Burke and Husband, Jeff, of Siler City, NC; Jeremy Harrell and wife, Tracy, of Randleman, NC; Valerie Jordan of Asheboro, NC; Leslie Y. Long and husband, Brian, of White Oak, NC; Amanda, Rachel and Stephanie Estes of Denville, NJ; nine great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.Memorials may be made to New Salem United Methodist Church or Randleman Community Service.Arrangements are by Pugh Funeral Home, Randleman..