Edna Stokes Yates

Edna May Stokes Yates, age 95, our beloved mother, Nana, Great Nana, Aunt and friend passed away at home on September 14, 2009 from causes incident to age including Alzheimer’s. Mom was born May 12, 1914 in Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to Rosanna Conlin and George Henry Stokes. She met her sweetheart and eternal companion. Harvey Elmer Yates, on a blind date while he was stationed in Sydney with the United States Navy. Their courtship, marriage and life together was a beautiful love story full of miracles. She is survived by two daughters Carol Coleman, Bountiful; Sherrill Darryl Anderson, Bountiful; and a daughter-in-law Dalice Yates, Fallon, Nevada. When Dad retired and decided to move to Bountiful in the spring of 1980 to be near his siblings, Sherrill and Darryl followed a couple of months later since they had Harvey and Edna’s only grandchildren, and wanted them to be raised near their grandparents. Mom is also survived by her three grandsons – Aaron Lauralyn Anderson, Enoch, Utah; Adam Kimberlee Anderson, Farmington, Utah; and Alan Shari Anderson, Seattle, Washington. She is survived by 7 great-grandchildren – Aaron & Lauralyn’s 5 children: Tyler, Jordyn, Jesilyn, Joseph, and Jonah; plus Adam & Kimberlee’s 2 sons: Jacob and Andru. She was preceded in death by her eternal sweetheart, Harvey, and her son Harvey Lynden Yates who died in December, 2006. Mom was never told of Lynden’s death and we’re sure that when she passed through the veil, it was a very joyous experience. Mom was adopted as a baby and could remember with clarity her early years with Rosanna and George. At age 5, her world fell apart when Rosanna was incorrectly diagnosed with mental illness and committed against her will to an insane asylum. Her father, George, was a merchant sailor and was required to be away from Mom for months at a time. Mom attended St. Cecilia’s Catholic Convent in Wyong, Australia as a school-year boarding student. Mom can remember her years at the boarding school with mixed emotions. Although the nuns were extremely strict and believed in discipline, she also knew she was loved. Summer vacations were spent with her father’s 6 sisters and their families. Mom spent many of her summer vacations swimming at Bondi Beach; she used to swim 6 miles a day as she trained with the Australian 1932 Olympic swimming team. In those days a competitor had to pay her own way and she was not able to afford to be on the team even though she was well qualified to compete. Our mom was always a beautiful, graceful swimmer. Dad and Mom’s love story was unique. In order to bring Mom to America to marry her, and with World War II threatening, the Navy required Dad to enlist for 2 additional years; he had already served 4 years. Think of what faith Mom had to have had to leave her family, her country and everything familiar to her to board a ship alone and leave her beloved Australia for America. Dad met her ship in the state of Washington. On their way to meet his family in Utah, they were married in Reno, Nevada on August 12, 1938. Mom was warmly welcomed by Dad’s parents and siblings and finally experienced the security of being part of a large, loving extended family. Their marriage was later solemnized on their 57th wedding anniversary on August 12, 1995 in the Bountiful temple. Dad and Mom raised their family in the Huntington Park/South Gate area of Southern California and lived on the same street for over 40 years. After Dad retired from U.S. Steel, they moved to Bountiful to be near Dad’s siblings. Mom’s conversion to the Mormon Church was another miracle and she willingly and lovingly served in the Primary for over 40 straight years. She taught young boys who later became her bishop. Mom loved to cook and entertain. Some of our sweetest memories of Mom were the countless meals she lovingly prepared for her neighbors. Her life was devoted to serving others. Mom always had a positive outlook and her motto was, &qoute;always look for the good in others.&qoute; Mom always had a compliment for everyone, every day. Everyone who knew Mom was usually privileged to be on the receiving end of her Christ-like service. Besides cooking, she was a talented seamstress and taught her daughters and son how to sew. She was into making scrapbooks years ago and was usually the person behind the camera at every family gathering. A viewing will be held at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful on Friday, September 18th from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday, September 19th from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. at the Bountiful 10th Ward, 1145 North 200 East. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the ward. The family would like to thank Vista Care Hospice for the loving and tender care rendered to their mother.