Jo Ann Yates

Jo Ann Yates

Jo Ann Yates, 83, of Anna, died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, at home, with her family by her side. 

She was born on Sept. 3, 1938, in Charleston, Mo., the daughter of Glen and Doris Bibb Middleton. 

She married Lowell Dean Yates on Sept. 18, 1954, in Cobden.

She is survived by her husband, Dean Yates of Anna; children Steve (Jean) Yates of Shorewood, Mike (Connie) Yates of Anna, Kim (Bill) Clayton of Paducah 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; 15 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; a sister, Glenda Wingerter; brother Johnny Middleton, and sister Deanna Walker.

Her 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, she worked at Caterpillar Tractor Company for 11 years. 

In 1977, Dean and Jo Ann moved to Mt. Pleasant, S.C., 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.

She 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. 

Her favorite pastimes included gardening, crocheting, needle point and canning. 

Funeral services for Jo Ann Yates were at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, at the First Baptist Church in Cobden, with Pastor Ed Falgout officiating. Interment was in the Cobden Cemetery. 

Memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church of Cobden building fund or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

To view the obituary and to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com. 

Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna was in charge of arrangements.

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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