- Date Of Birth: June 4, 1938
- Date Of Death: April 5, 2022
- State: Indiana
Richard Lee Yater went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington. He was welcomed to his Heavenly home by his wonderful wife, mother, and many treasured family members and friends. He was born June 4, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan to Leona Belle Wirth Yater and Morris Cliston Yater.
He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Monticello, Indiana, in 1956. He married Evelyn Kay Gross on November 24, 1956, near Montezuma, Indiana. They were married for 63 years. Throughout his life, he loved the thrill of buying and selling. He excelled in hunting both in the woods and for bargains be it cars or tractors. He enjoyed fishing, boating, and playing euchre. He worked hard alongside his wife raising their 3 children. He worked as a mechanic at Skip’s Mobil in Crawfordsville and then he worked 27 years at CEL&P retiring in 1995. He and Evelyn then moved to Burkesville, Kentucky. They worked together tirelessly on their small farm raising cattle, chickens, and goats. He loved being in charge of when hay was to be cut down and when it should be put in the barn. Riding his tractor was his favorite pastime.
He is survived by a son, Thomas Lee (Donna) Yater of Lafayette, two daughters, Leona Kay Yater of Glen Ellyn, IL, and Ellen (Gary) Rooze of Crawfordsville; sister Anna Yater of Crawfordsville and sister-in-law Sharon Gross of Monticello; grandchildren Doug (Jamie), Dan (Elizabeth), and David (Courtney) Rooze of Crawfordsville and Zachary (Ariel), Tucker (Megan), and Lily Yater of Lafayette. He also was blessed with 8 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, and parents, Leona and Morris.
