Parrie Lynnie McCall Yates

1911 - 2006

Parrie Lynnie McCall Yates passed away Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006.

Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, (512) 452-8811. Graveside service: 3:30 p.m. in Laurel Land Memorial Park, 7100 Crowley Road, Fort Worth, (817) 293-1350. Visitation: will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Lymphoma & Myeloma, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77030-4009, or a charity of choice.

Parrie Lynnie McCall was born in the small town of Mosheim in Bosque County on Jan. 9, 1911. She was one of 13 children born to Moses and Sarah McCall: Florine, William "Bill," Jewell, Beaura, Parrie, Frona, Vera, Fay, George "Buster," Wanda and Bennie all reached adulthood. This large family was truly remarkable. Against the odds of overwhelming poverty, they became remarkably successful, professionally, economically and, most importantly, as a close and loving family.

Parrie married the love of her life, Floy Yates, at the age of 16, a union that lasted 52 years. They were an inseparable couple, sharing their struggles and successes and their commitment to God and His church. Nothing could keep Parrie and Floy from church on the "Lord's day." Floy, with Parrie providing support, served as an elder for 40 years in the Church of Christ until his death in 1979. At that time, he was an elder with Alta Mesa Church of Christ in Fort Worth.

Parrie and Floy rejoiced in their two children, Melodee Joan and James Rodney. Parrie was a true "lioness protecting her cubs," taking great pride in the accomplishments of Melodee Wyatt, a successful teacher and real estate broker, who was married to Rudy Wyatt for 43 years. Parrie delighted in visits from Rudy and Mel, because no one was a better cook than Melodee and no one could make Parrie laugh and act silly quite like Rudy. She was equally proud of her son, James R. Yates, professor of educational administration and special education at the University of Texas at Austin. After Melodee was lost to multiple myeloma, Jim and his wife, Alba Ortiz, cared for and loved Parrie until she passed away Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006.

They appreciate the moral support provided by Rudy Wyatt and his wife, Sandra.

Parrie felt a parental commitment to all her nieces and nephews who share fond memories of Thanksgiving in Aunt Parrie and Uncle Floy's garage and breakfast pancakes cooked on Aunt Parrie's Chamber Range.

Survivors: Her son, Jim, and his wife, Alba Ortiz; and her son-in-law, Rudy Wyatt and his wife, Sandra. Parrie took great pride in her grandson, Michael Wyatt, and in her granddaughters, Sheila Yates Cook and husband, Richard, Shelley Yates Chitty and Michael, and Rebecca Wyatt Hinkle and Michael. She delighted in visits from her great-grandchildren, Roth, Gant and Tara Hinkle, Tony and Josh Cook, and Hannah, Ethan, Logan and Cade Chitty. Because of the large McCall family linkages, there are too many nieces, nephews and other relatives to name.