Barbara Yates

1940 - 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Barbara Lee Yates on February 8th after a brief battle with cancer. She passed away at home with her family around her and comforted by photos and memories of a life wonderfully lived.

Barbara was born in Seattle, WA on November 19th,1940 to Edwin and Vera Beach. She was the first of three daughters and was a caring older sister. Growing up in Magnolia her childhood was filled with wonderful memories and their home was the center of a happy social life with family and friends.

Barbara graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1958 and she went on to attend the University of Washington. It was there in a speech class she met the love of her life Hardy Roy Yates. Barb and Roy married in Seattle in 1960 and thus began a journey.

Their life was filled with amazing friendships, a shared love of tennis, music, travel, art and a deep commitment to faith and family. Highlights include years of dancing and fun at the Everett Golf & Country Club and hours on any available tennis courts including Barb playing on a team for many years at Columbia Athletic Club.

The relationships and community Barb and Roy found at the First Presbyterian Church of Everett was a mainstay in their life and that of their children. One of Barb's greatest pleasures was being a part of the choir and singing the amazing hymns each Sunday.

Barb was a treasured friend, tireless volunteer for many charities she cared for deeply as well as the public schools her children attended. She was bestowed the Golden Acorn from the PTSA for her volunteering in the Everett Public Schools. She served Snohomish County in various volunteer roles including being on the board of Housing Hope. She was an active member of a book club, bridge club, investment club and tennis team up until her passing.

She was a first-class mother devoted endlessly to the health and happiness of her three daughters. Their childhood was steeped in family activities like skiing and camping, vacations with aunts and uncles and cousins in places like Lake Chelan and Crescent Bar and at the center of the various adventures was Barb with her patience, endless enthusiasm and love of life.

She was a wonderful mother and then an exceptional grandmother. Affectionately referred to as Gabby she devoted time and energy to have meaningful relationships with each of her grandchildren and took a real interest in their lives and hobbies. She orchestrated annual Easter egg hunts in her beautiful yard with kids looking for colored eggs thoughtfully placed by Gabby among her colorful flower beds she spent hours maintaining. Christmas morning brought endless excitement as everyone, kids and adults alike, went through their stockings to discover the books, lotion, or ornaments hand picked by Gabby and just the perfect thing for the gracious recipients.

Roy and Barb's home was a warm and loving place for anyone to visit; family, grandkids, friends and neighbors. From her kitchen came memorable meals, delicious baked goods and homemade raspberry jam every July. She loved connecting with people and had lifelong friendships. Barb always remembered when to send a thoughtful handwritten note or card with her beautiful penmanship sending words of love and encouragement to those she cherished. She poured that same energy into knitting baby blankets for each of her grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and their children over the years which are now even more precious to each recipient as a reminder of the love she had for her family.

In later years mom kept up with the times becoming a skilled texter which was a hit with the younger generation, and she was liberal with the emojis which always made you smile. Gabby created photo books following amazing family trips to Hawaii and summers spent on the beach on Camano Island among many other family milestones. These were more cherished keepsakes from a talented and loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Barbara was preceded in death by her sister Carol Heimkes and her granddaughter Charlotte Lee Norris. Barbara is survived by her husband of 64 years Roy, her sister Janice Newell and her three beloved daughters Melissa Yates Norris (Kevin), Kathleen Yates Shubert (Kurt) and Susan Yates Wilson (Brian) and her eight grandchildren: Elizabeth, Nathan, Sophie, Aidan, Bridget, Paige, Daniel and Meredith. The family has been overwhelmed and comforted by the outpouring of love from those who knew Barb and their recollections of all the ways she made the lives of others better.

We will have a celebration of life for Barbara on Saturday June 14th at 2:00pm at First Presbyterian Church of Everett. In lieu of flowers we ask for remembrances to be made to the Imagine Children's Museum of Everett or First Presbyterian Church of Everett.