Barbara Joan Yates, 79, a longtime resident of Stockton, passed away quietly at home on the morning of January 22, 2017. Barbara was born in the city of Stockton. She was the oldest daughter of four children born to Viola and Reinholt "Mike" Nessler. She graduated from Stockton High School and attended Delta College. She worked for several years at the Red Cherry Bakery and Lincoln Village Bakery. She married Eldon Yates on September 21, 1955. The couple lovingly raised two children in the city of Stockton. Barbara also acted as a surrogate mother to several children over the years.
Barbara is preceded in death by her beloved father Mike Nessler, sister Janet Bryan, and brother Michael Nessler. She is survived by her husband of 61 years Eldon Yates, her mother Viola Nessler, sister Eleanor Adamson, daughter Eileen Yates, son Bruce Yates, daughter-in-law Carol Yates, grandson Justin Dillard, grandson Kenneth Yates, granddaughter Jessica Yates, grandson Richard Williams, grandson Aaron Williams and numerous great-grandchildren.
Barbara was at ease in the outdoors and found great enjoyment in gardening, fishing, and hunting. She loved archery and held office on the board of Lodi Bowmen for ten years. She was also a very talented self-taught painter and created scores of beautiful paintings over the course of her lifetime, but she will be most remembered for her kind spirit and dedication to family.
VISITATION
Visitation will be Thursday, January 26, 2017, from 4-8 PM at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, 831 Industrial Way in Lodi.
SERVICES
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 27, 2017, at 1 PM at Cherokee Memorial Park in the Evergreen Chapel. A luncheon will follow the services at Casa Flores in Lodi located at 400 East Kettleman Lane Suite #5.