Roger W. Yates

Roger W. Yates, 71, a resident of Tallahassee, passed away on October 12, 2016 at his home. A son of the late Winfred T. and Jennie Lou Yates, he was born on August 17, 1945. The first in his family to attend college, he received a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 1968, majoring in history and anthropology. On graduation he enlisted in the Air Force, meeting his wife while at radio school in her home state of Texas. He served active duty in the Air Force from 1968 to 1972 where he worked in Intelligence. For the next 20 years afterward, he served the Marine Reserves and then the Air Reserves. While in the Air Reserves, he also worked in the family business, Yates Furniture Store for 17 years, and later was a substitute teacher until retirement.

Roger was predeceased by his beloved wife whom he never stopped missing, Gayle Gayoso Yates; his sister, Faye and her husband, Franklin Brantley; and his nephew, John Joiner. He is survived by his children, Brenda Yates, Michael Yates (and wife Ashley), Jennifer Deaton (and husband Jonathan), Laura Baas (and husband Richard) and Daniel Yates; his oldest sister, June Joiner (and husband Charles); nieces, Beth Harwood (and husband Al), Mary Brantley, and Susan McMillan; nephews, William Brantley and Stacy Joiner (and wife Mayra); sisters-in-law, Marthel and Alice Gayoso; brother-in-law, Leon F. Gayoso (and wife Norma); and numerous other nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service visitation will be held at 1 PM on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home at 1737 Riggins Road, with the service itself starting at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice (https://www.bigbendhospice.org/donate) or the Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).