Princeville. Shelly Gene Yates, 88, of Peoria passed to his heavenly home on November 13, 2020 at home surrounded by his family.
Born February 29, 1932 in Altus, Oklahoma to Shelly H. Yates and Eugenia Stevenson, he married Mary (Sue) Harvey on June 20, 1954 in Altus. She preceded him in death on August 9, 2012 in Peoria.
Surviving are four children, Richard Yates (Debbie) of Sarasota, Florida, Connie Shepherd (Hurley) of Memphis, Tennessee, Sharon Trussler (Freddie) of Peoria, and Pam Wineinger (Steve) of Princeville and many grandchildren and great grands.
Shelly joined the National Guard and served his country in Korea. After graduating college with degrees in chemistry from Southwestern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma State University, Shelly moved his family to Peoria and worked at the US Department of Agriculture lab in Peoria. After his retirement from the USDA in 1987 he taught chemistry labs at Bradley University. Shelly was a deacon at Woodland Baptist Church in Peoria.
Shelly loved the outdoors and spent many family vacations camping around the US and Canada. He was well known as a guitar player and entertainer and comfortable with the banjo and harmonica. His deep bass voice will be missed from the Woodland Baptist choir.
There will be a private ceremony at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria where Shelly will be buried next to Sue. Memorials can be made to Illinois Cancer Care in Peoria.