James "Jim" Everett Yates Jr.

James “Jim” Everett Yates, Jr., age 72, of Taylors Valley, Virginia passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2015 in Spartanburg Regional Medical Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He grew up in Tazewell, Virginia and was a son of the late James Everett Yates, Sr. and Stelle Shoemaker Yates. He had lived in Tennessee, Ohio, and Florida and moved to Washington County, Virginia in 1991. Mr. Yates graduated high school from Johnson County, Tennessee. He attended Chandler Technical Institute in Willoughby, Ohio, Automation Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, East Tennessee State University, as well as, Steed College in Johnson City, Tennessee. His employment career began with General Electric in the data processing department. Most of his career was spent with the CSX Railroad and retired as Assistant Manager of Administrative Manpower Control. Mr. Yates was also a part time musician and played saxophone with several well-known local groups. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a sister, Carolyn Sue Stout. He is survived by five children, Tracy Lineberry and her husband, Steve, of Draper, Virginia, Stacie Glaser and husband, Brad, of Palmer, Alaska, Keith Yates and his wife, Paige, of Riner, Virginia, James Thomas Yates and Chloe Anne Yates both of Damascus, Virginia; his fiancé, Mary Wooten of Campobello, South Carolina; one sister, Linda Brewster of Johnson City, Tennessee; two brothers, Vestal “Bob” Yates and his wife, Glenda, of Damascus, Virginia and Paul “Cookie” Yates and his wife, Dixie, of Tazewell, Virginia; fifteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. The family will have a gathering of friends from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Sunday, February 8, 2015 at Garrett Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the American Foundation for the Blind, 2 Penn Plaza, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10121. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.garrettfuneralhome.com. Mr. Yates and his family are in the care of Garrett Funeral Home, 203 N. Shady Ave., Damascus, VA 24236, ph.#: 276-475-3631.Read Obituary