Rita M. Yates

Kneading bread dough early in the morning as fast as she dared, Rita looked anxiously from the clock on the kitchen wall to the window, where she had a good view to see when the bus drove by. She was determined not to miss it; she loved school, but sometimes her chores ran late, and as she pounded the last bread loaf and set it on the counter to rise, she saw a streak of yellow pass the window. She quickly threw the apron to the floor, her clean school clothes worn underneath, and out the door she flew, chasing the school bus down the road. She always made it to school on time and sometimes even before the bus. The kids would tease her kindheartedly when she arrived, as they often waved at her when they saw her sprinting after the bus.

This was a fond memory for Rita Yates, always told with a smile. Though chores were always expected to be done before she could leave the house, she was determined to get to school every day. When recollecting these teenage years, she would get a sparkle in her eye and she'd say, “I would not be kept out of school!” She animatedly spoke about life on the family farm in Glencross, SD. Rita was born on October 4th, 1923 to Pius and Christina Waldman and was the 4th oldest of 12 children. She and her brother Albert often rode horseback to spend the day herding cattle. There were many fruit trees on the farm, and Rita always talked about the times she and her sister's chore would be to thin the pear trees. Rita always wore her swimsuit under her clothes on these days because she knew her parents liked to take afternoon naps. When it was determined they were fast asleep, Rita and her sister would come down off their ladders and head down to the swimming pool. They would always make it back before their parents knew they were missing.

Rita's parents decided to move the family to the Yakima Valley when Rita was just entering high school. She went to Zillah High, and graduated in 1942. She went to Yakima Business College, and with her great friend, Peggy, whom she met during her time in Zillah, she decided to enlist in the Navy during World War II. One of Rita's fondest memories of her time in the service was the 5 day train ride on the way to the W.A.V.E.S. base in Bronx, NY. The train would stop for a few hours in Chicago and Rita recalled shopping in a mall, and she said with a chuckle, “People must have thought we were crazy.. we would run up and down those escalators. We had never seen them before.” She spent two years in the Navy as a book keeper, during which she met then president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. “He pulled up in a beautiful blue convertible, and us girls were allowed to go down and shake his hand. It was a great honor in those days to meet your president.” One of Rita's stations was Klamath Falls, OR., where she met her husband to be, William Yates. She was discharged from the Navy in Sandpoint, WA and stayed with her parents while she worked in general delivery at the post office in Yakima, WA. She loved people and was very social. She enjoyed working at the front window, visiting with each person collecting his or her mail. She would come to know each one by name.

She married William Yates soon after returning to Yakima, their romance bloomed ever since meeting in Klamath Falls, and from a common love of music and dance. They enjoyed going out to dance the jitterbug, and their favorite love song to dance to was “The Tennessee Waltz.” William, after finishing his time in the service, became a meat cutter at Safeway, and Rita was pregnant with their third child when she got Polio in 1950. Rita had to spend a year in St. Elizabeth's (Regional) hospital. “There were a lot of people that got Polio. People were even brought from Wenatchee to St. Elizabeth's. It was hard to see the children come down with it.” Since doctors still didn't know how Polio was spread, she was under quarantine during her stay at the hospital. Her husband's only contact with her was through notes and cards, through the nurse, to Rita. This was a hard time, but those letters of love got her through. Polio took the use of Rita's legs, but could not break her spirit. She went on to raise 6 more children for a total of 9, though she was dependent on braces and a wheelchair. Her children went to St. Paul's church and school, and Marquette. Her boys played many sports and Rita was always a proud parent attending the games, cheering them on. She was a devout Catholic, and member St. Paul's church of Yakima, always speaking fondly of Father Ecker, for she knew him when he first came to serve at St. Paul's. She said Mass just “wasn't the same” on the days that he was absent. After most of the children had grown up, Rita and William moved to Moxee and had a small ranch there. In 1989, not long after her husband passed away, Rita moved in with her daughter, Laurie Sevigny in Terrace Heights. Though Laurie was busy teaching at Garfield Elementary School during the week, she enjoyed bringing Rita out to lunch on the weekends and for drives to Cowiche Creek Nursery. Tami Yates, wife of her son Patrick, had been coming to the house for years to do Rita's hair. Every Tuesday, Rita looked forward to having Patrick and Tami come over. 4 years ago Laurie began requesting in home services from ResCare so someone be with Rita during the day while she was at school. One of the greatest blessings for the past three years was having ResCare employee, Gretchen Bartz, as her companion and caregiver. Gretchen provided a compassionate and trusting environment for Rita. She took care of both her physical and emotional needs and was one of the highlights of Rita's daily life. “I loved her very much,” Gretchen said. “It wasn't just a job. She became family.” Rita was able to live in her own home until just recently when she needed care at Good Samaritan, where she passed away peacefully on the morning of May 29th, 2013.

It was impossible for anyone who knew Rita not to love her. She was always kind, never complained, and always chose to see the best qualities in everyone. She has a special place in everyone's hearts and will be missed by all who knew her.

Rita Yates is preceded in death by her parents, Pius and Christina Waldman, husband William Yates, brothers: Tony, William, Ray and Pius Waldman, sisters: Adele Daunhauer and Barbara Selzer.

Rita is survived by her siblings: Hilda Gallipo, Yakima; Gwen Druce, Seattle; Albert Waldman, Yakima; Jerry Waldman (Gloria) Yakima; Harvey Waldman (Marie) Kennewick, and by her children: Laurie Sevigny, Yakima; William Yates (Melody Westmoreland) Spokane; David Yates (Sharon Dwinell) Yakima; Patrick Yates (Tami) Yakima; Marty Yates, Moxee; Michele Ashford (Ray) Ukiah, CA; Louise Hicks (companion, Gary) Olympia; Mike Yates (Sharon) Moxee; Marvin Yates, Modesto,CA, 39 loving grandchildren, and many great grandchildren.

Viewing will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2013 at Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home with a Vigil service beginning at 5:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Paul Cathedral on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. A committal service with full military honors conducted by William Wharton Post #379 VFW and Washington State National Guard will be held at Calvary Cemetery on Monday, June 3, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. To share a memory of Rita, visit www.lmfuneralhome.com.