Frances "Joy" Yates

Frances “Joy” Yates, age: “not old” but 96 by just two weeks, is at rest and peace. Born in Chicago and raised in Cisne, IL, she was the oldest of five siblings. Her parents, Kathryn (Dockery) and Harry Blake, instilled in her a “determination to be a good example by working hard, being honest, loving God and having goals.” Known as a quilter and storyteller, Joy graced us with many written memories and gave us this gift to use her own words to authenticate her story. Joy wrote and shared about nuanced moments in her life that she knew had the ability to teach us a lesson in the most subtle of ways. Impressively, Joy took the time to document these seemingly innocuous life events while brushing past the facts of her own life. At 12 she started to deliver newspapers on her bike, she was a clarinet scholar who was self-driven to attend Southern Illinois University in the 40s to become a teacher in a country school. When forced to share, she would relate how she became the first female sales manager at AMF manufacturing which was unimaginable at the time. As a devoted servant of God, she used her leadership role in the Christian Woman’s Club to share her story and bring more people to her Lord. Consistent with her mission of service to others, Joy was a loyal board member to Salvation Army in Oxnard, CA and won the OTHERS Award as a reflection of her community service with them. In her own words, “Children make us see God’s love in new ways and a feeling of being responsible for their physical and spiritual growth is ever present” With her first husband, Leland Carson, she raised two boys, Kent and Steve. She helped raise David, Richard and Janet when she met and married Walt Yates in 1974. They enjoyed life together in Oxnard, CA for more than 30 years. After Walt’s passing, Joy moved to Lake Forest Place, to be closer to family in IL and IN. Being a great-grandmother to Remle, Carson and Lou was a responsibility she took as an honor. Joy is survived by her two sons Kent (Sandy) Carson and Steve (Tara) Carson; grand-children Ted Carson and Amanda (Ernie) Denninger; great-grandchildren Remle, Carson and Lou Denninger, step-children Rick Yates (Mercedes Trump) and Janet Yates; siblings Harry Blake and Jane (Mike) Proud and her adoring nieces and one nephew. Meeting her at the gates of Heaven and preceding her in death are her parents Kathryn and Harry Blake, her husband Walt Yates, step-son David Yates, brother Paul Blake and sister Ruth Tolbert. A memorial service will be held in the Vail Room at Lake Forest Place, 1100 Pembridge Drive, Lake Forest, IL at 4pm on Monday, February 19, 2024. She will be buried with her beloved, Walton E. Yates at the Riverside Military Cemetery in California. In lieu of flowers, the family is supporting her devotion to servitude with donations to the Salvation Army South Division/Oxnard Corps, 16941 Keegan Avenue Carson, CA 90746 or (562) 264-3600. Arrangements by Reuland & Turnbough Funeral Directors of Lake Forest, (847) 234-9649 or www.RTfunerals.com.

Frances "Joy" Yates

January 11, 1928 - January 24, 2024