Norman Stewart Yates
Posted By tatemortuary on December 6, 2011
Norman Stewart Yates
5 Jun 1920 – 6 Dec 2011
Norman will be spending Christmas this year with his beautiful sweetheart Eva, their son Walter and all those who have passed on before him. Norman Stewart Yates, of Vernon, Utah, died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family, at the home of his daughter, Valerie, who had been lovingly caring for him in her home the past few months. Norman was born the 5th of June 1920, the third child of seven, born to Hyrum Isaac and Zina Oborn Yates. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to the North Central States and held many callings in the church throughout his lifetime. Norman served his country in World War II, in the European Theater of Operation (ETO) under General George S. Patton’s Third Army. He was part of the “Ghost Corp”, and the drive across Europe that dealt a crushing blow to Hitler’s war machine. He proudly landed on Utah Beach during the Normandy Invasion and survived the bone chilling cold during the Battle of the Bulge, earning a total of five battle stars. Norman was a proud American and the flag always flew in his front yard. Norman returned from Europe and married his childhood sweetheart, Eva Durrant, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on the 12th of June 1946. He worked for Deseret Chemical and Tooele Army Depot, which took the family to Germany and El Paso, Texas. Norman also spent a year in S. Korea as an advisor to the Korean Army. Norman became a pilot and shared ownership in a small plane, making a landing strip in the field by his home. Many relatives and neighborhood children took their first airplane ride with Norman. He also constructed a zip line on his property that thrilled the young and old alike. He had a great sense of humor, keeping everyone smiling almost to the end. He is reunited in death with his wife, son and parents. He also joins his brothers, Theron & Dwain and his sister LaVon Drury. Norman is survived by his children; Curtis (Laurie) Yates, Corinne (Verl) Davis, Rita (Curt) West, Jan (Cherie) Yates, LaRue (Duane) Phillips and Valerie (Doug) Yates-Freeman, 24 Grandchildren and 35 plus Great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his siblings, Marvin (Ruth) Yates, Belva Iverson and Don (Janae) Yates; Sister-in-law, Arlene Yates and brother-in-law, Robert (Mary) Durrant. Funeral Services were held at the Vernon LDS Chapel on Saturday, December 10, 2011. Interment Vernon Cemetery.
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