James Robert Yates, Sr., 81, of Casey, IL passed away at home Saturday, March 24th at 4:03 pm.

He was born September 2, 1936 to Harry and Orlia Tingley Yates in Chrisman, IL and spent his early years growing up in Metcalf, IL.

As a young boy, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing outside in the summer until the hot pavement covered his feet with melted black tar. His prized possession was his Daisy air rifle and his best friend was his springer spaniel, Duke.

At age 15, he met the love of his life, Ruth Emmaline Carroll. He courted her every week at family and church outings for four years and three months before they married on July 15, 1956. Jim always said he chased her for four years until she turned around and caught him!

The couple lived in a married housing apartment at Olivet Nazarene College called “GI-ville”. Jim worked at Bennett Industries in Peotone and supported his wife and family as Ruth completed her college degree. They served at Bradley Church of the Nazarene and their first three children, Jim, Greg, and Stephanie were born.

Jim brought his family to Casey in 1964 after Ruth accepted a call to pastor Casey First Church of the Nazarene. Jim rode his motorcycle to and from work every day, rain or shine, at Terre Haute Tool and Die for nine years. During part of that time, he also served on the Casey police force.

In 1973, Jim and Ruth had their fourth child, Sonya, and he founded Casey Tool and Machine where he led as president until his retirement in 1997. He enjoyed the freedom of flight while piloting his four-seat Piper Archer aircraft. For many years, he was active in the community. He was one of the founders both of Comfort Inn of Casey and Preferred Bank. He served his church in the choir, on the church board, as Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and on several different committees. He served on the Illinois District Church of the Nazarene Advisory Board and the Olivet Nazarene University Foundation Board. He was a member of Gideons International Bible distribution organization.

Jim was a well-respected leader, but he was never far removed from people. He loved meeting new people and made friends everywhere he went. He loved to study genealogy and family history and was able to connect with many family members of various branches of the family tree. One of his great strengths was communication and one of his most recent favorite pastimes was to drive himself and Ruth on their golf cart to Whitling Whimsy Café for lunch and to meet new people visiting the windchime. Jim put out a big garden every year and blessed many people by sharing produce from it. He continued to enjoy his trade as a toolmaker even after retirement at his small machine shop on his property affectionately referred to as the “potting shed.” He produced tooling needed by other companies as well as created special projects like the custom hammers he built for his family in his retirement years.

Jim was a precision tool maker whose deeply held faith and values guided his decisions and gave stability to his life. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His family and friends celebrate his life here on earth and look forward to the day when we will be reunited again.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Ruth; children Jim (Susie) of Charleston, Greg (Vicki) of Bourbonnais, and Sonya Comer (David) of Bourbonnais; son-in-law Rick Unger; grandchildren Terry (Lynnae) of Casey, Laci Erickson (Chad) of Bourbonnais, Jay of Charleston, Hollee (John Gambrel) of Naples, FL, Mitchell (Millie) of Casey, Mandy Marin (Fabian) of Bourbonnais, Luc (Sheena) of Casey, Heidi Hennessy (Kyle) of Kankakee, Emily Unger of Galesburg, Michaela Comer and Madison Comer of Bourbonnais; great-grandchildren Tori, Connor, Kate, and Logan of Casey, Wyatt, Rylee, and Toby Erickson of Bourbonnais, Lucee and Jett of Casey, Nora, Elise, and Lila Hennessy of Kankakee, and Julian Marin of Bourbonnais.

Jim was preceded in death by his daughter Stephanie Ruth Yates Unger in 2004, his parents, Harry and Orlia Yates, his brother Roy, his half-brothers Harry (Bud), Carl, Fred Yates and Leslie and Denny Wallace, and half-sisters Lucille (Yates) Owens, Marjorie (Yates) Ijams, and Ruth Wallace Sanders.

James Robert Yates, Sr., 81, of Casey, IL passed away at home Saturday, March 24th at 4:03 pm.

He was born September 2, 1936 to Harry and Orlia Tingley Yates in Chrisman, IL and spent his early years growing up in Metcalf, IL.

As a young boy, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing outside in the summer until the hot pavement covered his feet with melted black tar. His prized possession was his Daisy air rifle and his best friend was his springer spaniel, Duke.

At age 15, he met the love of his life, Ruth Emmaline Carroll. He courted her every week at family and church outings for four years and three months before they married on July 15, 1956. Jim always said he chased her for four years until she turned around and caught him!

The couple lived in a married housing apartment at Olivet Nazarene College called “GI-ville”. Jim worked at Bennett Industries in Peotone and supported his wife and family as Ruth completed her college degree. They served at Bradley Church of the Nazarene and their first three children, Jim, Greg, and Stephanie were born.

Jim brought his family to Casey in 1964 after Ruth accepted a call to pastor Casey First Church of the Nazarene. Jim rode his motorcycle to and from work every day, rain or shine, at Terre Haute Tool and Die for nine years. During part of that time, he also served on the Casey police force.

In 1973, Jim and Ruth had their fourth child, Sonya, and he founded Casey Tool and Machine where he led as president until his retirement in 1997. He enjoyed the freedom of flight while piloting his four-seat Piper Archer aircraft. For many years, he was active in the community. He was one of the founders both of Comfort Inn of Casey and Preferred Bank. He served his church in the choir, on the church board, as Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and on several different committees. He served on the Illinois District Church of the Nazarene Advisory Board and the Olivet Nazarene University Foundation Board. He was a member of Gideons International Bible distribution organization.

Jim was a well-respected leader, but he was never far removed from people. He loved meeting new people and made friends everywhere he went. He loved to study genealogy and family history and was able to connect with many family members of various branches of the family tree. One of his great strengths was communication and one of his most recent favorite pastimes was to drive himself and Ruth on their golf cart to Whitling Whimsy Café for lunch and to meet new people visiting the windchime. Jim put out a big garden every year and blessed many people by sharing produce from it. He continued to enjoy his trade as a toolmaker even after retirement at his small machine shop on his property affectionately referred to as the “potting shed.” He produced tooling needed by other companies as well as created special projects like the custom hammers he built for his family in his retirement years.

Jim was a precision tool maker whose deeply held faith and values guided his decisions and gave stability to his life. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His family and friends celebrate his life here on earth and look forward to the day when we will be reunited again.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Ruth; children Jim (Susie) of Charleston, Greg (Vicki) of Bourbonnais, and Sonya Comer (David) of Bourbonnais; son-in-law Rick Unger; grandchildren Terry (Lynnae) of Casey, Laci Erickson (Chad) of Bourbonnais, Jay of Charleston, Hollee (John Gambrel) of Naples, FL, Mitchell (Millie) of Casey, Mandy Marin (Fabian) of Bourbonnais, Luc (Sheena) of Casey, Heidi Hennessy (Kyle) of Kankakee, Emily Unger of Galesburg, Michaela Comer and Madison Comer of Bourbonnais; great-grandchildren Tori, Connor, Kate, and Logan of Casey, Wyatt, Rylee, and Toby Erickson of Bourbonnais, Lucee and Jett of Casey, Nora, Elise, and Lila Hennessy of Kankakee, and Julian Marin of Bourbonnais.

Jim was preceded in death by his daughter Stephanie Ruth Yates Unger in 2004, his parents, Harry and Orlia Yates, his brother Roy, his half-brothers Harry (Bud), Carl, Fred Yates and Leslie and Denny Wallace, and half-sisters Lucille (Yates) Owens, Marjorie (Yates) Ijams, and Ruth Wallace Sanders.