Dwayne (Dewey) Lee Yates Sr. of Hillsdale, formerly of Albion, passed away at the VA Hospital in Ann Arbor on September 21st, 2022 with his life partner, Kim at his side. He was born in Drift, Kentucky to Andrew Yates Jr. and Mary Elizabeth (Artrip) Yates.
Dwayne was a past president of the Albion Eagles. He was also a member of the Jonesville Eagles, American Legion, and Moose Lodge.
He joined the Army in 1969 with the 82nd Airborne. After returning home, he worked for the Jackson Gas Company and Sharps Evergreen Nursery.
Dwayne was always talking with his siblings and children on the phone. He enjoyed camping, karaoke, his horse named “Big Red”, sitting around a campfire with friends, listening to country music, and watching western shows. He always enjoyed when family and friends would come over and visit. He adored his children and great-grandchildren. His partner in life, of 21 years, is Kim Kittredge Smith of Hillsdale, formerly of Concord.
He is survived by his siblings Kenneth, Zada Seiter, and Larry; his children Rachel (William) Chesney, Dwayne “Lee” Yates, II, Misty Burt, Shawn Brunner, Parnell Gullet, his step-daughter Amy Nelson, and Kim’s children, Michelle (Adam) Lehman and Christopher (Whitney) Smith.
Dwayne had several grandchildren that all survive: Rachel’s children, Ben Siefert, Hillary Siefert, Tyler Kimber, Josiah Yates, Grant Kimber, Dawson Kimber, and Camron Chesney; Lee’s children, Nickolas Yates, Romelio Matos, Kodi Yates, and Kylie Yates; Dakota, Katelyn, Bradyn, Ashlyn, and Keegan. He was also a proud Grandpa to several great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents Andy and Mary Yates, his ex-wife Elizabeth Ann, brothers Roger, Carl, and Eddie, and his partner Kim’s daughter Cary Ley Wessel.
The family would like to invite family and friends to a graveside memorial at 1:00 p.m. at Albion Memory Gardens, located at 26905 B-Drive S, Albion, MI 49224.
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