Wanda Yates

Services are scheduled at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 7, at West Main Baptist Church for Wanda A. Rita Yates of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mrs. Yates, 77, died Sunday, July 4, 2010 at Heartland Nursing Center in Artesia.

Jason Kraft will officiate at the services with burial at Twin Oaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Harley Jorgensen, Michael Jorgensen, Jerry Parks, Allan Parks, Jerry Yates, Rocky Neel, and Wesley Neel. Honorary pallbearers will be Gene Yates, Richard Clayton, Chris Onsurez, and Coleman Jackson.

Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary Tuesday beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Mrs. Yates was born September 23, 1932 in Chickasha, Oklahoma the daughter of Floyd 0. Parks and Nancy Ellen Husband Parks.

On September 2, 1950 she was married to Bobby James Yates in Taos, New Mexico. She came to Artesia in 1956 from Roswell, N.M.


Rita was a bookkeeper. She was a member of Centre Avenue Baptist Church, Altrusa, and a professional dog trainer. She also loved to hunt, fish, paint, draw and sew. But her most favorite thing to do was spend time and play with her granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, and two sisters.

Survivors include her husband Bob Yates of the family home son Otis Yates and wife Edana of Artesia sister Koie McCauley of Sante Fe, N.M. grandchildren Chloe, Tessa, and Macy Yates all of Artesia.