Imogene Yates

1927 - 2016

Yates Imogene Yates, age 88, of Lancaster, died early Tuesday morning, March 15, 2016 at the Brookdale Nursing Home in Mount Vernon after a 10-year battle with Parkinson's and more recently dementia. She was born on April 28, 1927 in Pleasantville, Ohio the daughter of the late James D. and Lourfa (Moore) Berry. She attended Lancaster High School where she participated in the marching band. As a young woman she was a dancer, focusing on "toe tap" and was also into acrobatics. In fact, she was freakishly strong and would challenge anybody, male or female, to arm wrestle. On March 12, 1966 she married George Yates. They just celebrated 50 years together as husband and wife. While her daughter, Melody was in school, Imogene was focused on her role as mother and housewife. She later retired from Western Electric and was the In-Service Director at St. Ann's Hospital in Westerville, where she was in charge of the volunteers. She was a member of The Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal where she was active in the Eucharistic Ministry. She was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary. Imogene loved anything with sugar in it and desert always came first. Yet she somehow always maintained her petite frame and size 6, something that always amazed her daughter. In fact, you may say that eating was a hobby of Imogene'sfrom her own home made fried chicken to banana pudding, the woman loved to eat. She thoroughly enjoyed life and a word that came up numerous times was "humor". Whether it was food fights with Melody when she was a child or telling off color jokes to Rick, Imogene loved life. In her spare time, you might find Imogene in the middle of a tightly contested card game, camping with her family, or most importantly spending time with her grandchildren whom she loved so dearly. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, George of Mount Vernon; her daughter, Melody Fairchild and her husband, Rick of Sunbury; three grandchildren, Tiffany Fairchild Schlater and her husband, Doug of Delaware, Renee Fairchild and her fiance, Steve Jackson of Columbus, and Ryan Fairchild and his wife, Jennifer of Westerville; two great grandchildren, Tara Lynn Schlater and Tristan Shea Fairchild; nieces and nephews, Jolaine (John) Konstantinitis, Michael (Joy) Scholl, Renee (Danny) Smith, Robert (Carla) Scholl, and Robert Berry. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brother Jim Berry, sister Maxine Scholl, niece Malia Bennett and nephew Jim Berry. Friends may call on the family on Thursday, March 17, 2016 from 5-8 p.m. at the DeVORE-SNYDER FUNERAL HOME, 637 North State Route 61, Sunbury, Ohio. Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday at 11 a.m. at the St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 9633 East State Route 37, Sunbury, Ohio 43074 with Father David Sizemore officiating. Graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Maple Grove Cemetery in Lancaster, Ohio. Melody would like to extend a special thank you to her mom's Hospice Nurses, Michele and Bryan and to the staff at Brookdale Assisted Living for taking such excellent care of her mom and dad. She would also like to thank her Adoration Partner, Anita Cochran RN, who always answered her questions and made her feel as though she was making the right decision with her mom's healthcare. Lastly, Melody wants to thank everyone at St. John Neumann Church who has offered a kind word or volunteered to assist with the funeral meal. Words cannot fully express the eternal gratitude Melody has for everyone listed above. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Kindred at Home Hospice, 112 Harcourt Rd #4, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050.