Ila Ann Yates, 90, of Fairlawn, passed peacefully into the waiting arms of her Savior on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023.
Ila was a strong woman of faith, who loved the Lord with all her heart. She was an active figure in the local church for many years. Ila loved reading and gardening, getting her hands in the dirt. Be it flowers or vegetables, she was always proud of her work and had a “green thumb.” She was also a very skilled seamstress and did beautiful works of knitting and crochet. Originally from Springfield, Mass., she met the love of her life through mutual friends while he was stationed in Berlin. She and Jesse K. Yates, of Blacksburg, wrote to each other for a year. When he was discharged from the service, he went to Massachusetts to meet her. Not long after, they were married and he brought her back down to Virginia, where they lived, happily married for 49 years and 11 months before he lost a long battle with cancer and went home to be with the Lord. During this time, they were blessed with three children. Ila was preceded in death by her parents, Alexander and Lottie LaFleur Neill; her beloved husband, Jesse K. Yates; brother, Jimmy Neill; and her sister, Olive Mae Beresford.
Survivors include her children, Steve Yates (Debra), David Yates (Nancy), and Lori Yates; grandchildren, Ryan Lawson (Brian), Joshua Yates (Karla), Blake Yates (Jessica), Whitley Lester (Charlie), and Kelsey Cooper (Daniel); great-grandchildren, Carter Kegley, Jason Lawson, Jaxon Yates, Griffin Yates, Kellen Yates, Kyla Yates, Benson Yates, Ryker Yates, Jackson Lester, Genesis Lester, Graham Lester, and Gabriel Lester; adopted daughter and caregiver, Julie Jordan; sister, Lillian Haidemenous; and many other family members and special friends.
The family would like to sincerely thank the staff of CCU and PCU at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, who lovingly cared for Ila during her recent stay; as well as Dr. Ruffin, Dr. Turner and the Carilion Cardiology Group, Deetta Ray, Shelly Butler, and Dr. Sandeep Ravi.
Ila was a unique woman, loving wife, mother and faithful friend. She was well loved and will be missed by all who knew her.
The family received friends Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, at the Jubilee Christian Center. Funeral services followed with Pastor Gary Hash officiating. Interment followed in Highland Memory Gardens in Dublin.
The Yates family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford.
