Stella Theo Yates

Stella Theo Stone Yates, 96, of Benton, TN passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at a local health care facility.   She cherished family get-togethers at all the major holidays and loved gardening and growing flowers.  She was a devoted Braves fan and knew all their stats.  She was a life-long member of Benton Station Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Boyd Yates, Sr.; son, Raymond Gerald Yates; parents, John O. and Dovie Burris Stone; sisters, Estelle Stone Norris and Loma Stone Williams; brothers, Buster Clint (Buck) Stone, Olice Stone, R.B. Stone, Charles Stone, Luther Stone. 

She is survived by her children, Ann (Bill) Womac of Benton, TN, Jean Blair of Etowah, TN, Faye (Ben) Chism, Cleveland, TN, William Boyd Yates, Jr. and Douglas Yates of Benton, Michael (Rosemary) Yates of Cleveland, TN, Randy (Carol Ann) Yates of Benton, TN, Matt (Cindy) Yates of Delano, TN, Kathy (Mike) Rose of Old Fort, TN and Kim (Barry) Queen of Cleveland, TN, daughter-in-law, Wendy Yates of Chattanooga, TN; grandchildren, Jeff  (Cathy) Womac, Michele (Jonathan) Darnell, Julie  (Eric) Lange, Sarah (Daniel) Kelly, Bethany Chism, Scott Chism, Elliott (Caitlyn) Yates, Alex Yates, Torey (Jed) Walker, Houston (Katie) Yates, Rachel (Greg) Minardo, Josh (Bayley) Rose, Michaela Rose; great grandchildren, Hunter Womac, Steven Bode, Garrett Bode, Hayden (Jordan) Darnell, Jonah Darnell, Oliver Lange, Emily Lange, Sophie Lange, Jack Lange, Daniel Timothy Kelly, Elizabeth Kelly, Owen Samuel Minardo, Paxton Stone Minardo, Savannah Rose, Adelaide Rose and arriving in May is her first great-great grandchild, Miss Phoebe Darnell; special friends, Jan Darden and Jane Lawson.   

Her family expresses many THANK YOU’S to care giver, Patty Rucker, Hospice of Chattanooga and Life Care of Cleveland.            

Funeral services will be at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2019 in the chapel of Higgins Funeral Home in Benton, TN with Reverend Joel Jenkins and Reverend Ryan Potts officiating.  Interment will follow in Benton Memorial Gardens. 

The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service.

Serving as pallbearers will be Elliott Yates, William Boyd Yates, Jr., Douglas Yates, Michael Yates, Randy Yates and Matt Yates.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 151, Ocoee, TN 37361 or Benton Station Baptist Church, 909 Benton Station Road, Benton, TN 37307.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Yates Family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.