Maxie E. Yates

Maxie E. Yates, 80, of Sioux City passed away peacefully Monday, July 2, 2007, at his residence.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with Neil Peck, CLS, officiating. Immediately following the service, there will be a Masonic service by the Tyrian Lodge 508 A.F. & A.M. with Jeffrey Buchman presiding. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Thursday at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Maxie, as he was known to his family and friends, was born June 20, 1927, in Charleston, W.Va., the son of Charles Edwin and Lorena (Bogges) Yates. At the age of 17, he interrupted his high school education to enlist in the U.S. Navy, where he served for two years. He was stationed in Hawaii, Guam and Saipan. Upon his discharge, he returned to Charleston to finish his high school education.

He then enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he participated in seven of the 10 campaigns during the Korean Conflict. He eventually returned to the United States, serving at Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort Riley, Kan. He was then transferred to Germany, where he served three years before returning to the stateside. He eventually retired in Sioux City following 20 years of service.

Following his retirement, he worked as a housing inspector for the city of Sioux City and manager of Physical Plant at Western Iowa Tech Community College.

He married Shirley L. (Beauchene) Cleary on March 24, 1979 in Sioux City.

He was a member and past Master of Tyrian Lodge 508, a past Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, a past presiding officer and past director of all the York Rite Bodies and a 33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary of the Sioux City Scottish Rite Bodies. He also was a past Grand Master of The Grand Council of Iowa and a 48 year member of Abu Bekr Shrine.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley; a brother, Russell Neil Truman of Charleston, W.Va.; two sons and their wives, Charles D. and Donna Yates of Sioux City and Russell E. and Donna Yates of Jacksonville, Fla.; a stepson, Kevin Cleary of Sioux City; two stepdaughters and their husbands, Jeanette and Bill Drewry of Clive, Iowa, and Cindy and Doug Willrett of Middleton, Wis.; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Richard L. Yates, Joseph Noel Truman and Charles Yates; an infant sister, Joanne; and a stepson, Mark E. Cleary.

Honorary pallbearers will be Alden C. Noble, Lyle C. Johnson, Wilbur D. "Pete" Bennett, George J. Harrison, William F. Drewry and Douglas Willrett.