Ethel Yates

Ethel Cunningham Yates, age 94, went home to be with her Lord Friday, February 15, 2008. She was a native of Clay County but had resided in Haywood County for most of her life and was a daughter of the late Paul Benjamin and Sallie Elizabeth Moss Cunningham. She was preceded in death by her husband of 78 years, Honea A. Yates, who died December 4, 2007; one son, Paul Kenneth Yates; one sister, Lula Mae Swanson; three brothers, Charles, Cline and Garland Cunningham; one grandson, Jeffrey Yates Brooks, and one son-in-law, Weldon Brooks. Ethel was devoted to her husband, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, neighbors, friends, church family and her special Hardee's friends. She was a true inspiration to everyone who came in contact with her. Ethel worked at Raiff's Department Store for 9 years and was the manager of Cato's of Canton for 27 years. She is survived by three daughters, Ruby Mae Brooks, Carolyn Sutton and her husband, Robert, and Betty Y. Henderson and her special companion, Ron Mason, all of Canton; four sons, Eugene Yates and his wife, Tiny, and Horace Yates and his wife, Gail, all of Canton, Charles Yates, and Jerry Yates and his wife, Ann, all of Waynesville; one sister, Annie Palmer and her husband, Mark, of Waynesville; 20 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 18, 2008 in the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Michael Austin and Reverend Steve Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Bon-A-Venture Cemetery on Newfound Road. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of her daughter, Carolyn Sutton, 103 Holland Road in Canton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Plains United Methodist Church Choir Fund, 2029 Newfound Road, Canton, NC 28716. The family would like to give special thanks to Memorial Mission Hospital Staff and Haywood County EMS personnel.

Previous Events