Joseph Lee Yates November 21, 1955 - June 18, 2024

Joseph Lee Yates, “Papa Joe,” passed away peacefully at his home in Payson, UT, June 18th, 2024, surrounded by loved ones after battling with Alzheimer’s Disease for more than a decade.

Joe was born on the 21st of November 1955 in Red Lodge, Montana, the third of six children to Ralph and Dolly Yates. At the age of three, he, along with his parents and older sisters, were sealed together in the Cardston, Alberta temple.

He spent his formative years running cattle with his family on ranches in both Montana and Idaho. He often was found attempting to escape his sisters’ constant pursuit of dressing him in girls clothing and calling him “Rita.” He also regularly helped break horses and was thrown on the “green” ones.

Joe served as a missionary to the people of England in 1974, where he fell in love with canes and bowler hats. After his service, he attended Rick’s College and Brigham Young University with the hopes to become a children’s literature author. He later worked his way up to Anchorage, Alaska, a decision that would change the course of his life, as it was there that he met the love of his life, Janine.

Joe married Janine Ann Warner, on April 21, 1987, in the Salt Lake City Temple for time and all eternity. He was a family man, through and through, and would as often be found on the ground wrestling his and others’ kids as he would be playing card games like Hearts and Kings in the Corner. Joe enjoyed joking and making anyone he could laugh, as he was a stranger to no one. His goofiness made any place feel like Disneyland. He gave many a bear hug to anyone willing (and some not), leaving them squished and loved.

He was an entrepreneur and innovator at heart. He led business ventures in the form of a gas station and grocery, The 123 Stop, his used car dealership where you’d be encouraged to “Go See Joe”, “The Barn”, and many creations like birdhouses, horseshoe flowers, and other woodcrafts.

Many Saturdays, Joe ventured into the yards and garages of people wherever he lived to barter for the best deal on anything and everything. He tinkered with bicycles and gifted them to neighborhood kids. He loved cars, canoes, road trips, puzzles, popcorn, summer popsicles, and listening to Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Throughout his life, Joe was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings and finding opportunities to help anyone and everyone he could.

Joe is survived by his wife of 37 years Janine and his children: Joshua (Gwen), Jacob (Janae), Madeline (Travis), Jacqueline (Mackenzie), Jessie (Tommy), and Poucheka (Pedro). He is also survived by his seven grandchildren (Charlotte, Henry, Benjamin, Mila, Bentley, Oliver, and Louie), three siblings (Linda, Lena, and Scott), many nieces and nephews, and beloved friends. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Dolly Yates, his brothers, Wes and Yancey, and father-in-law, Joseph Warner.

We wish to thank Valeo hospice caregivers for their comfort and attention near the end, the employees of Aspen Senior Day Center for the years of activities and love, members of the Maples Ward Relief Society who provided meals, and all the many friends and family who helped Joe over these last difficult years.

A celebration of life will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 610 West 1400 South Street in Payson, Utah, on Saturday, June 29th, 2024, at 11:00am. All are invited to come celebrate Joe with us.