Yates, Jay R. 1963-2024

YATES, EZELL, COOPER, VOIGTLANDER, MONTE, GEORGAKAS, SNYDER, CLASING, STONE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/26/2024 at 14:59:14

Jay R. Yates
March 10, 1963 ~ December 23, 2024 (age 61)

Jay R. Yates, 61, of Hudson, WI, formerly of Newton, IA passed away peacefully with his family by his side December 23, 2024. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 2, 2025, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. The family will greet friends from 10-11 a.m., Thursday, January 2, 2025, at the funeral home. Memorials to the First United Methodist Church can be left at the funeral home.

Jay was born to the union of Jerry O. and Betty K. (Ezell) Yates in Pauls Valley, OK on March 10, 1963. The Maytag Company brought the family to Newton where Jay grew up. He graduated from Newton High School, class of 1981. At the age of 19, Jay moved back to Oklahoma to work in the oil fields for his uncle’s oil company. He became a radioactive specialist certified through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and was responsible for wiring explosives. When he told his dad of this job, his dad told him to keep that information between the two of them; his mom did not need to know that! He also worked at Tinker Air Force Base as a warehouse manager briefly before moving back to Iowa in 1989. Upon his return, he took a job in the factory at Maytag only to quickly transfer to the IT Department as a Systems Engineer. Although Jay had his associate’s degree in electronic engineering, he was self-taught in computer programming. Jay was the fourth generation of Yates to be employed by Maytag. Jay remained with Maytag until it’s Whirlpool acquisition, working his way up to Director, Data Center Operations and Network Services. He transferred with Whirlpool to St. Joseph, MI in 2006 where his responsibility grew to Global Director, Network Engineering and Services. In 2011, a new job opportunity took him to Atlanta, GA with Coca-Cola. Jay has always been loyal to the brands for which he was employed. Only Maytag/Whirlpool manufactured appliances and only Coca-Cola products. Pepsi was a dirty word in his house! Atlanta was a long distance from family so when a former Maytag colleague called to offer him a position at 3M in Minnesota, he took it. Jay worked for 3M from 2013 to his retirement in 2022. He ended his career as IT Leader over North, South, and Central America locations with the responsibility of managing a $150 million annual budget. Jay had a dedicated work ethic like no other. He had a career that afforded him the ability to travel the world and provide a great life for his family.

Jay was an avid fisherman and hunter. His favorite pastime was fishing for flathead catfish in the Mississippi River with his son. His biggest catch was a 44 lb. flathead. He also enjoyed duck and pheasant hunting. Jay’s hunting dog, Macy was his faithful companion during pheasant hunting. Jay boasted that Macy outhunted two labradors during one hunt. He also enjoyed turkey hunting when living in Iowa. While growing up he made money by trapping and selling the animal pelts.

Jay’s greatest joy was his family. On May 23, 1992, Jay married Chandra Cooper in Newton. They were blessed with 4 children: Cassandra Kay, Krysten Danielle, Whitney Jaylea, and Marshall Bryant. The couple divorced in 2019 but reconnected in 2022. They remained close friends and spoke daily. Jay’s family will remember his dry sense of humor, his love for classic rock, and most of all his stubbornness. Jay would argue with a fencepost as long as he got the last word!

Those left to honor Jay’s legacy are his parents, Jerry and Betty Yates of Newton, a brother, Jeff (Shelly) Yates of Ankeny; his four children: Cassie (Matt) Voigtlander of Waukee, Krysten (Sam) Monte of Stevensville, MI, Whitney (James) Georgakas of Ellsworth, WI and Marshall Yates of St. Joseph, MI. His three grandchildren, Kaylan Snyder, Amelia and AJ Monte, and two grandbabies due in the summer of 2025. He is also survived by two nieces, Jenna Clasing and Jordan Yates-Stone.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jay R. Yates, please visit our floral store.

Services
VISITATION
Thursday
January 2, 2025
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory
1115 E. 19th St. N.
Newton, IA 50208-2539
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MEMORIAL SERVICE
Thursday
January 2, 2025
11:00 AM
Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory
1115 E. 19th St. N.
Newton, IA 50208-2539
Send Flowers to Jay's Memorial Service
Guaranteed delivery before the Memorial Service begins
Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tribute Wall ~ The Wallace Family Funeral Home, Newton, Iowa 23 Dec 2024.