Obituary for Ardys Rae Yates
Ardys Yates, 86, of Stratford died Monday, July 4, 2022 at Carlisle Care Center in Carlisle, IA. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 15, 2022, at Foster Funeral Home, Webster City, IA. Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery, Stratford, IA. Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, prior to the service.
Ardys Rae Yates, daughter of Clifford and Viva (Scott) Gabrielson, was born January 1, 1936 in Webster City. She graduated from Stratford High School in 1954. On January 5, 1957, she was united in marriage with Wendell Yates at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Webster City. Over the years, Ardys worked for Hahne Printing; Franklins, (where she met Wendell); Maudlin Construction; Hemingway, Myers and Bottorff; Production Credit Association and Electrolux.
Ardys is survived by her daughters - Shelley (Charles) Clausen of Stanhope, Leann (Phil Gillespie) Yates of Cordova, IL; son - Lynn (Jennifer) Yates of Indianola; grandchildren - Seth Clausen, Sarah Keenan, Erin Dietz, Magen Jones, Eric Yates, Chance Yates, Garrett Yates, Zach Oldham, Nick Oldham, Mikayla Foster; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law - Janet Yates, Sandy Yates, Verona Yates; brother-in-law - Andy Yates; nephew - Rick Woodard and Penny Woodard and their children Grant Woodard and Tiffany Woodard and many extended family and friends.
Ardys grew up around the Stratford area and had a lifelong love of horses. She was proudly the Dayton Rodeo Queen in 1951, one year after the crown was worn by her sister Jean. Ardys shared her love of horses with Wendell, and eventually their family began riding in the Brushy Creek Park in the early 70s, long before modern camping facilities were present. They, along with several other families, spent every summer forging trails and enjoying the beauty of Brushy Creek set to the tune of Annie Avery (also Terri Avery in later years) and Elaine Elm singing around hundreds of campfires over a span of more than 30 years. Ardys, and the whole family, made lifelong friendships at Brushy Creek throughout that time.
Ardys was also an avid sports fan. She played 6-on-6 basketball in high school, and she played for the “Dainty Dribblers” Women’s Basketball Team at Fuller Hall, where they won a League Championship. Ardys loved to cheer Wendell on, along with all of the other Yates boys, as they played fast pitch softball for many years. Most of all, Ardys and Wendell were diehard Iowa State Fans. They attended many Cyclone basketball games through the years and they proudly displayed their “GOTALVM” license plates on their truck.
In the late 90s, Ardys and Wendell bought a second home in Florence, AZ. They enjoyed living as “snow birds”, spending their time golfing, playing cards and participating in various clubs and community events. They made many friends from all over the United States and Canada while in Arizona. After 57 years of marriage, Wendell passed away in 2014. Ardys continued to spend the winters in Arizona as she loved the warm weather and truly loved all of her friends she had made there.
Ardys was fortunate to later find companionship with Dick Nemechek, who she had went to school with in Stratford. Ardys and Dick were able to spend a few years wintering in Arizona as well, before he passed away in 2021.
In addition to her parents, Ardys was preceded in death by her husband, Wendell in 2014; sister - Jean Woodard; brothers-in-law - Francis “Babe” Woodard, John Yates, Dean Yates, Jim Yates, Russ Fitchhorn, Joe Yates and John Manship; sisters-in-law - Marie Yates, Maxine Fitchhorn, Charlene Yates, Kathy Yates and Larita Manship.
Ardys Rae Yates, daughter of Clifford and Viva (Scott) Gabrielson, was born January 1, 1936 in Webster City. She graduated from Stratford High School in 1954. On January 5, 1957, she was united in marriage with Wendell Yates at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Webster City. Over the years, Ardys worked for Hahne Printing; Franklins, (where she met Wendell); Maudlin Construction; Hemingway, Myers and Bottorff; Production Credit Association and Electrolux.
Ardys is survived by her daughters - Shelley (Charles) Clausen of Stanhope, Leann (Phil Gillespie) Yates of Cordova, IL; son - Lynn (Jennifer) Yates of Indianola; grandchildren - Seth Clausen, Sarah Keenan, Erin Dietz, Magen Jones, Eric Yates, Chance Yates, Garrett Yates, Zach Oldham, Nick Oldham, Mikayla Foster; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law - Janet Yates, Sandy Yates, Verona Yates; brother-in-law - Andy Yates; nephew - Rick Woodard and Penny Woodard and their children Grant Woodard and Tiffany Woodard and many extended family and friends.
Ardys grew up around the Stratford area and had a lifelong love of horses. She was proudly the Dayton Rodeo Queen in 1951, one year after the crown was worn by her sister Jean. Ardys shared her love of horses with Wendell, and eventually their family began riding in the Brushy Creek Park in the early 70s, long before modern camping facilities were present. They, along with several other families, spent every summer forging trails and enjoying the beauty of Brushy Creek set to the tune of Annie Avery (also Terri Avery in later years) and Elaine Elm singing around hundreds of campfires over a span of more than 30 years. Ardys, and the whole family, made lifelong friendships at Brushy Creek throughout that time.
Ardys was also an avid sports fan. She played 6-on-6 basketball in high school, and she played for the “Dainty Dribblers” Women’s Basketball Team at Fuller Hall, where they won a League Championship. Ardys loved to cheer Wendell on, along with all of the other Yates boys, as they played fast pitch softball for many years. Most of all, Ardys and Wendell were diehard Iowa State Fans. They attended many Cyclone basketball games through the years and they proudly displayed their “GOTALVM” license plates on their truck.
In the late 90s, Ardys and Wendell bought a second home in Florence, AZ. They enjoyed living as “snow birds”, spending their time golfing, playing cards and participating in various clubs and community events. They made many friends from all over the United States and Canada while in Arizona. After 57 years of marriage, Wendell passed away in 2014. Ardys continued to spend the winters in Arizona as she loved the warm weather and truly loved all of her friends she had made there.
Ardys was fortunate to later find companionship with Dick Nemechek, who she had went to school with in Stratford. Ardys and Dick were able to spend a few years wintering in Arizona as well, before he passed away in 2021.
In addition to her parents, Ardys was preceded in death by her husband, Wendell in 2014; sister - Jean Woodard; brothers-in-law - Francis “Babe” Woodard, John Yates, Dean Yates, Jim Yates, Russ Fitchhorn, Joe Yates and John Manship; sisters-in-law - Marie Yates, Maxine Fitchhorn, Charlene Yates, Kathy Yates and Larita Manship.