Dwight Edwin Yates, age 77, was born in Marceline, Missouri.

Dwight Edwin Yates, age 77, was born in Marceline, Missouri, to Maxwell Edwin Yates and Ruth Fern (Smay) Yates on April 16, 1945, and passed away on August 25, 2022, at home in Blue Eye, Missouri, (Twin Island Estates.) He was proud to be born and raised in Walt Disney’s boyhood hometown. Dwight graduated in 1963 from Marceline High School after he returned from Viet Nam, where he was stationed in the Army. He married Stephanie Lou (Powell) Yates on July 15, 1967, in Marceline, Missouri. Dwight and Stephanie first lived in Harker Heights, Texas, where he was stationed at Fort Hood. They soon moved to Killeen, Texas, right outside Fort Hood. After he got out of the Army, he and his little family moved back to Marceline, then to Kansas City, where he was employed by the Gas Service Company in Kansas City, Kansas. Dwight started as a B-fitter, then meter reader, then a serviceman and then he was promoted to supervisor and retired from the company after 38 years in 2007.

Dwight enjoyed spending time with his family, joking with people, going to movies, going to plays at the New Dinner Theater, seeing Branson shows, boating and anything on lakes including scuba diving. Dwight was active in his children’s sports and church activities. He was Cub Master, then Scout Master for the Boy Scouts of America. Dwight loved the Lord and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978. He, Stephanie, and children were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple for time and all eternity in 1979. At church Dwight had responsibilities including Bishop, High Counselor, Executive Secretary, Clerk, Elder, and many others. He and Stephanie’s life’s dream was to retire and move to Table Rock Lake. Even though they missed their dear friends, they started living their dream in 2007 when they moved to Twin Island Estates on the lake. He was active in the community and loved his neighbors. Dwight also loved his morning coffee group. Although he didn’t drink coffee, Dwight did enjoy time with the guys solving all the world problems, and he loved the weekly card games. His theme in Hand and Foot was “do not go down dirty on 50.” On the lake his goal was to make sure nobody stayed on the tube. Dwight loved pulling skiers and watching the kids and grandkids jump off the cliffs.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Stephanie Yates; his four children: Tia (Mark), Blaine (Ashley), Stephen, Joshua (Tonya); grandchildren by age: Taylor (Maleena), Benjamin (Stephanie), Meagan, Alexandra (Matt), Timber, Mason, Beckett, Sawyer, Cohen, and Luka; four great-granddaughters: Charlotte, Penelope Jane (PJ), Ellis, and Genevieve; sisters: Janice and Kay; sisters-and-brothers-in-laws: Kathy (Cecil), Barbara (Joe), and Debbie; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, sister-in-law Cindy and brother-in-law Justin.

His celebration of life will be held Saturday, September 10, 2022, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9113 State Highway 76, Branson West, Missouri, which will also be online. Anyone unable to attend in person is welcome to attend online.  He will be buried in Marceline, Missouri, at a later date. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Cremations of the Ozarks. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.cremationsoftheozarks.com.