Frieda Yates

COLUMBIA -- Frieda Mae Yates, 94, died Sept. 5, 2012, at The Bluffs Nursing Home in Columbia.

Born Aug. 19, 1918, in Puxico, to the late William and Anna Katherine Lenox Wilkerson, she had lived most of her life in Dudley and Puxico and she and her husband had owned and operated Yates Grocery near Dudley. For the past 45 years, she had been a member of the First General Baptist Church in Puxico where she was a Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher and the secretary-clerk for 29 years.

On June 17, 1933, in Puxico, she married to Paul Yates Sr. who preceded her in death in February 1972.

She was also preceded in death by one son, Franklin Dean Yates, and her brothers and sisters.

Survivors include: one daughter, Katherine Musbach of Columbia; two sons, Paul "Bub" Yates Jr. of Dudley and William Hershel Yates of Raymore; and eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 8:30 a.m. until time of services at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the First General Baptist Church in Puxico with the Rev. Kenneth Lambert of Bloomfield officiating.

Burial will follow in the Puxico Cemetery with the Watkins and Sons Funeral Service of Puxico in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent at www.watkinsfuneralhome.com.