Mr. DeWayne Yates

A celebration of the life of Mr. DeWayne Yates, 85, of Henderson, will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church with Dr. David Higgs and Rev. Toby Tipps officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the Family Life Center on Wednesday. Mr. Yates passed from this life to his home in Glory on June 15, 2025, in Henderson. He was born June 21, 1939, in Bivins to the late Fineous Yates and Lillian E. Yates. Mr. Yates served his country in the United States Air Force where he was part of the air and sea rescue team in Alaska. He finished his education at Jacksonville Baptist College after his service to the Air Force. He would go on to work for Safety Kleen Corporation for 29 years where he served as a branch manager in San Antonio and Dallas. DeWayne and Kay moved back to Henderson in 1989 and he was a long-time member of First Baptist Church where he served in many roles over 29 years. He headed up the Upwards Basketball program, organized church camping trips to Beavers Bend in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, taught Sunday School, and served as church administrator for 10 years before his retirement. DeWayne was also very involved with the local prison ministry and was instrumental in helping to get a chapel built at Bradshaw State Jail. It’s also hard to think about DeWayne and not remember what an avid fisherman he was! He enjoyed those quiet moments on the dock or in the boat. He was preceded in death by his father Fineous Yates, mother Lillian Yates, and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Jan and Wayne Tipps. Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Kay Yates of Henderson; children, Walter Yates and wife Pam of San Antonio, Darrel Yates and wife Kelly of Austin, Robert Yates and wife Kandy of Cleburne, Michael Yates and wife Cindy of Rowlett, and Melissa Burton of Henderson; sister, Theresia Johns of Tyler; brother, Donovan Yates and wife Carol of Houston; grandchildren, Kyler, Kolten, Wesley, Kaitlyn, Kimberly, Kyndall, and Rudy; 7 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and close friends. The family would also like to say a special word of thanks to DeWayne’s caregiver, Angie Thompson, Brookdale of Henderson, Thousand Oaks Hospice and Tracey for all of their tender love and care. Pallbearers will be Kyler Yates, Kolten Yates, Wesley Yates, Ronnie Schweng, Neal Vinson, Corey Spoon, Brad Tipps, and Brett Schweng. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Archer, Mike Head, Jacob Arnold, Brett Robinson, Dr. Doyle Sumrall, and Wendell Pool. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church Children’s Building Fund at 207 W. Main St, Henderson, TX 75652, and/or Full Armor Christian Academy attn: Finance Director, PO Box 2035, Henderson, Texas 75653. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mr. DeWayne Yates

June 21, 1939 - June 15, 2025