Larry Gene Yates

Larry Gene Yates of Forsyth, MO passed away on Thursday, August 18th at the age of eighty-four.  Larry was born on February 14, 1938 (or the 21st according to his family) to Henry and Vivian (Garner) Yates in Cobden, Illinois.  He was the youngest of four children.  He graduated from Cobden High School in 1957.  He enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1958 and married the love of his life, Kittie Ballance in August of that year.

They started their 64 years of marriage and his 20-year military career at Loring AFB, Limestone, Maine.  Other places called home for Larry and his family while serving in the military were: Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc, California; Wheeler AFB, Wahiawa, Hawaii; Eglin AFB, Valparaiso, Florida; Spanish/American AFB, Zaragoza, Spain; and Offutt AFB, Bellevue, Nebraska.  He served isolated tours of duty in Thailand, Vietnam, and Korea and several other temporary duties.  While serving in Thailand he was well known for his Christian service.  When off duty he devoted much of his time to the orphanages sponsored by the Thailand area wide Churches of Christ.

After retiring from the military in 1978 he and his family returned to his hometown of Cobden, Illinois.  He attended Shawnee College and received his Associate of Arts degree at the age of forty.  He worked in transportation and maintenance at Cobden ISD and did appliance repair in his spare time until he retired again to Forsyth, Missouri in 2010.

Larry was a worker for the Lord during his entire adult life, serving as Elder and Deacon and in any capacity where he was needed in the Lord's church.  He was a member of the Forsyth, Missouri Church of Christ.  A better husband, father, grandfather, and friend cannot be found.  He was loved by all who knew him.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents and sister JoAnn Yates-Ellis.  He is survived by his brother, Dean Yates of Anna, IL;  sister, Alice Jackson of Joliet, IL.;  wife, Kittie Ballance-Yates; children, Alan Yates and Misty of Cobden, IL;  Cynthia Anderson and Robert of Hewitt, TX and Dale  Yates and Cathy of Anna, IL; grandchildren, Nathan and Kristen Anderson, Holly and Eric Bender, Benjamin and Paige Yates, Reece Anderson, Mason, Maggie, and Miles DeLashmutt; Six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, August 27th at 2 p.m. at the Forsyth Church of Christ, 137 Spring Street, Forsyth, Missouri.  Graveside services with military rites will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 29, 2022 at the Cobden Cemetery. Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Cobden is in charge of local arrangements.