William F. "Bill" Yates

William ‘Bill’ Franklin Yates, 92, of Burlington Junction, Missouri, died Saturday, November 11, 2023.

Known affectionately by his grandkids and great grandkids as ‘PaPa’, Bill was born September 20, 1931, in Burlington Junction to Roberta Ellsworth and Leo Yates. After high school, Bill enlisted in the United States Army and served honorably from 1950-1953 in the Korean War; he received 1 Battle Star on his Korean War Medal. While in the service he learned how to make ‘SOS’; he continued to make that for the rest of his life with his family and ‘you ate it or you went hungry.’ The love for the dish wasn’t necessarily passed along to those who ate it.

In 1954 he met Cornelia ‘Connie’ Lee Rogers and on July 2, 1955 they were married in St. Joseph, Missouri; they remained married for 60 wonderful years until Connie’s passing in 2015.

Bill’s professional life was diverse, with fond memories he’d often share of his time as a comedian in the Red Barn Opry in Omaha, Nebraska, as a mechanic for the Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, or as a mechanic for TransCon Freight Lines in Salt Lake City, Utah. With many happy retired years Bill became owner/operator/purveyor of ‘Oleo Acres, The Cheaper Spread’, an overly enthusiastic collector, yard sale attendee, and a mainstay of morning coffee powwows for many years in Burlington Junction.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife Connie, and his son, Roger. He is survived by his sons Randy E. Yates, of Omaha; and Robert ‘Bob’ E. Yates (Gayle), of Burlington Junction; and daughter-in-law Cindy Yates of Staplehurst, Nebraska. Grandsons William (Arlene) Yates of Gulfport, Mississippi; Ryan Yates of David City, Nebraska; Benjamin (Emi) Yates of David City, Nebraska; grandson John Yates of Omaha and granddaughter Jenny Yates of Omaha; and Daniel (Chelsea) Yates of Columbia, Missouri and Mark Yates of Burlington Junction. He also has numerous nieces, nephews, and great grandchildren.

Bill has been cremated under the care of the Bram Funeral Home, Maryville, MO.

Bill’s family will have a Celebration of Life ceremony on December 9, 2023, from 2-4:00 PM, At the Rolla Dicks American Legion Post 315, Burlington Junction, MO.  His remains will be laid to rest later next to his wife in the Ohio Cemetery in Burlington Junction.