Winston Amos Yates

Winston Amos Yates, 87, of Paragould, passed from this life on Monday, November 27, 2023, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born to Marvin Hershel Yates and Jewell Dee Clark Yates on June 12, 1936, in Paragould.

Winston graduated from Paragould High School in 1955. Like many others of the area, he then went north in search of work. He found employment at Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, Illinois, and retired from that company as a quality control specialist, after 37 years of service. Upon his return to Paragould in 2000, he worked another five years as a materials manager and purchasing agent with JP&O Prosthetic & Orthotic Laboratory in Jonesboro.

Winston took pride in the fact that he served as a Tazwell County, Illinois, sheriff’s deputy for 13 years and was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. An avid second amendment advocate, Winston was a Life Member of the American Rifle Association. He was also a member of Paragould’s Woodland Hills Church of the Nazarene, where he would often lead the congregational singing.

Winston was an enthusiastic singer, as well as a fine guitar and piano player, and he was happiest when his family would gather to play and sing the old gospel standards. He especially loved southern gospel music and for many years attended the annual National Southern Gospel Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

“Wink” also had a liking for cars, the fast ones. His sons fondly remember the early years when he was an avid drag racing enthusiast and could be found switching out the rear end ratio of his own car so he would be competitive on the drag strip the next Sunday.

Above all, Winston was a good man who was dearly loved and cherished by his family. He will be sorely missed.

Winston was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Hershel Dee Yates of Jamestown, Tennessee; and special friend, Joan Padgett of Linton, Indiana. He is survived by his sons, Kim Edward Yates (Robin) and Kevin Lee Yates of Kissimmee, Florida, and Kenneth L. Yates of Jonesboro; a brother, David A. Yates (Robin M.) of Jonesboro; a sister-in-law, Martha M. Yates of Jamestown, Tennessee; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.

Visitation will be held at 1 p.m., with a celebration of Winston’s life following at 2 p.m., Friday, December 8, at Heath Funeral Home in Paragould, with Keith Holifield officiating. The family requests that memorials be made to New Friendship Cemetery Association, Maintenance acct, 3408 Sue Ann Dr, Paragould, AR 72450.