Jo Ann (Middleton) Yates

Jo Ann Yates, age 83 of Anna, passed away Saturday, August 27, 2022 at home with her family by her side. She was born September 3, 1938 in Charleston, MO, the daughter of Glen and Doris (Bibb) Middleton. She married Lowell Dean Yates on September 18, 1954 in Cobden.

Jo Ann is survived by her loving husband, Dean Yates of Anna; children, Steve (Jean) Yates of Shorewood, Mike (Connie) Yates of Anna, Kim (Bill) Clayton of Paducah, KY, and Krisi (Ty) Eshleman of Cullom; she was a devoted grandmother to nine grandchildren, Stephanie (Dan) Manno, Stacy (Jason) Vitas, Nikki (Ed) Koncel, Billy (Chrys) Yates, Callie (Steve) Hammer, Jake Mills, Addi Kate Mills, Zach (Erica) Buchenau, Jordyn (Danny) Deany, Dylan Clayton, and Victoria Clayton; fifteen great-grandchildren; sisters, Mildred (John) Stewart of Anna, Nina (Mike) Lofton of Cobden, and Sherri (Brian) Lukes of Cobden; other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Glenda Wingerter; brother, Johnny Middleton, and sister, Deanna Walker.

Jo Ann's family moved to Southern Illinois before she started elementary school. She attended Cobden High School. She married Dean in 1954 and they moved to Joliet in 1956. While there, Jo Ann worked at Caterpillar Tractor Company for eleven years. In 1977, Dean and Jo Ann moved to Mt. Pleasant, SC where Jo Ann loved to take their boat out to the beaches and look for seashells. In 1989, Dean's work took them to Nanjing, China. They enjoyed that assignment enough, they decided to take another. They went to Kuantan, Malaysia in 1995. During their two years there, they were able to travel to New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, and Hawaii. They returned to Southern Illinois in 2000, building their home in Anna.

Jo Ann was known for her excellent cooking. Her delicious cakes were well loved at the First Baptist Church of Cobden. Especially her carrot cake and Italian cream cake. Her grandchildren loved her biscuits and gravy. They were frequently enjoyed on yearly trips to Kentucky Lake.

Jo Ann's favorite pastimes included gardening, crocheting, needle point, and canning.

Funeral services for Jo Ann will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at the First Baptist Church in Cobden with Pastor Ed Falgout officiating. Interment will be in the Cobden Cemetery. Friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at the First Baptist Church in Cobden. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Cobden Building Fund or Hospice of Southern Illinois. Envelops will be available at the church.