BIll Yates, 1940 - 2005

Passed away Sunday, May 1, 2005. Bill was born August 17, 1940 in Kalamazoo, the son of Duane and Ella Viola (Mc Crum) Yates and had been a lifelong resident of the Kalamazoo-Portage area. For over 10 years, Bill was a Golf Pro for the Kalamazoo Municipal Golf Association, where he was a golf instructor and conducted a junior golf school. Bill was the men's golf coach at Western Michigan University before the school dropped the sport. He was a fine amateur player and is a former city and Kalamazoo Country Club Invitational champion. He was a consummate teacher and mentor. Bill was also a gourmet cook. He is survived by his children, Scott (Julie) Yates of Ft. Myers, FL, Wendy (Steven) Buskirk of Kalamazoo, Todd Yates of Tampa, FL, and Molly (Wayne) Van Sweden of Kalamazoo; 9 grandchildren, Ryan Pineau, Danielle Pineau, Adam Van Sweden, Jordan Van Sweden, Betsy Van Sweden, Amelia Yates, Kelsey Bourbeau, Sarah Yates and Kyle Yates.