Blaine E. Yates

Blaine E. Yates, age 82, of Savanna, Illinois, died Monday, March 21, 2011, at home. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2011, at the Law – Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. Burial will follow in the Savanna Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12 to 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family in Blaine’s memory.
Blaine was born February 24, 1929, in Thomson, Illinois, the son of Fred and Edna (Doden) Yates. He graduated from Savanna High School. Blaine married Florence Gilbert on November 26, 1968, in Savanna. Florence preceded him in death on May 5, 1990.
Blaine worked at Helle’s Wood Products, National Lock, and retired from Met Form in Savanna. He was a talented woodworker, making many sculptures of owls and tulips, as well as making shelves and fish shipping boxes for local companies. In his younger years, Blaine enjoyed hunting rabbit, squirrel, and deer, going fishing, and was a fan of the Chicago Cubs. He enjoyed vegetable gardening and was very involved with 4H.
Blaine is survived by three daughters, Mary Ann (Andy) Green of Savanna, Illinois, Holly Lynn Bumphrey of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, and Debra Kradle of Savanna; one son, Gary (Dana) Baglin of Savanna; his mother, Edna Hoy of Clinton, Iowa; nine grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, and one great – great grandchild; one sister, Artie (Bud) Burns of Erie, Illinois; one brother, Ray “Bud” Hoy of Corvallis, Oregon; and one sister – in – law, Ferrol Yates of Rock Falls, Illinois.
Blaine was preceded in death by his father, Fred Yates; his wife Florence Yates; one sister, Donna Cole; one brother, Everett Yates; his step mother, Edna Yates; one half brother, Fay Yates; and one grandson, Colton Harris.