Obituaries : Dorothy Geater Yerkes

Greene: Funeral services for Dorothy Yerkes, 83, of Greene, will be 10:30am Thursday, November 6th, 2014, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene with Pastor Gary Hatcher officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 5-7pm., Wednesday, November 5th, 2014, at Retz Funeral Home, 519 N. First St., Greene, Iowa.

Dorothy Mae Geater was born June 10, 1931, in Vinton, Benton County, Iowa, a daughter to Ray and Hazel (Edmonds) Geater and passed away on October 30, 2014, at Muse Norris Hospice in Mason City after a battle with cancer.

Dorothy was one of seven children. When her mother died she was 12 years of age and took on the responsibility of raising her three younger siblings. Dorothy assumed the role of caretaker for the entire family.

After graduating from Vinton High School she was employed at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids.

On June 30, 1957, she was united in marriage with Melvin Yerkes, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They made their home in Greene where they were blessed with five children.

Dorothy was a homemaker who received her joy in caring for her family and home. She also worked at Lois Upholstery and frequently traveled to Vinton (down-home) spending time with her siblings and many relatives.

Surviving family members include her children: Paul (Connie) Yerkes, Greene; June Yerkes, Greene; Bruce (Tanya) Yerkes, Greene; Mark (Melodie) Yerkes, Greene. Grandchildren: Samantha, Rachel, Casey, Carter, Bennett; step-grandchildren: Matt (Toni) Foy; Mike (Kathi) Foy; Tiana Schlosser-Putnam; great grandchildren: Mason, Jordan, Natalie, Gavin. Brothers: John (Irene) Geater; Lyle (Lillian) Geater; Sisters: Mary Ellen Rogers; Zelda Bower; sister-in-law, Joyce ‘Rusty’ Geator; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Melvin J. Yerkes in 2012, infant daughter: Kay Fern Yerkes, sister: Betty (Charles) Linsey, twin brother: Donald Geater, son-in-law: William Hutchinson.

Memorials may be directed to the Dorothy Yerkes Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 219, Greene, Iowa 50636.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Retz Funeral Home, 519 N. First St., Greene, IA