Lula Faye Yates, age 87, of Springfield passed away on May 10, 2015, in her daughter and son-in-law’s home where she had lived for the past seven years. Faye was born on Dec. 30, 1927 at Success, MO, to John and Cleta (Coffey) Bates. Faye attended a rural school house and as a girl participated with the boys track team, running and pole-vaulting onto sawdust shavings.
Faye was an ordained minister with the Association of Faith Churches and Ministries. She pastored churches in Macomb, Greenfield, Marshfield, and Rogersville, MO and regularly conducted revivals in Texas County, Missouri. She was also a cosmetologist and had owned beauty salons in Licking, Ozark, and Springfield, MO. Faye loved to visit and minister in Nursing Homes and even worked until she was 80 in the beauty salon at Elfindale Manor. She was currently a member of Amazing Grace Fellowship. Faye was always on the go. She enjoyed life, laughter, her grandchildren, and visiting with people.
She is survived by her daughter, Peggy Hedgpeth and son-in-law, Roger of the home, daughter-in-law, Gloria Dawson of Springfield, two grandsons, Ken (Sheila) Dawson, and Len Dawson of Springfield, two granddaughters, Tiffani (John Paul) Caswell of Baton Rouge, LA, Tasha (Jared) Harnar of Springfield, four great grandsons, Adam Dawson, John Isaac and Chase Caswell, and Parkar Harnar, two great granddaughters, Sophi Harnar and Isabella Caswell. She is also survived by a sister, Millideen (Sterling) Huff of Licking, MO, and two sister-in-laws, Jean Bates of Salem, MO and Judy Bates of Branson, MO.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Garold Dawson in 1953, and her late husband, Vernon Yates in 2005, and a son, Kenneth Dawson in 2009, also three brothers, John, Laurel, and Loren Bates, and one sister Florence (Harvey) Kimrey.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 14, 2015, at Amazing Grace Fellowship, 3801 S. Kansas Ave., Springfield, MO. A memorial service will follow at the church at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Roger Hedgpeth and Rev. Terry Kleier officiating. A graveside service will be held in Licking Cemetery, Licking, MO at 3:30 p.m.
A special thanks to Seasons Hospice for their loving and compassionate care. Services have been entrusted to Greenlawn Funeral Home South.