Lawrence Edward "Skip" Yates

Skip graduated from Claremore High School in 1965 then attended Oklahoma Military Academy (OMA) for 1 year. He entered the U.S. Army where he served in Germany with the 10th Special Forces Group for 1 year. He then served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam for a year as a decorated soldier.

After his military service he took a long and winding road to a Bachelor of Science Degree which began at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and finished at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah graduating in May of 1977.

He received his Certificate of Public Accountancy in 1993. He then worked as a C.P.A. for 30 years with Bill & Connie Flanagan and 12 years with Paul Hood of Hood Professional Services Inc. During this time, he met and married Sharon Brown and fathered 2 sons, Christopher and Corey.

Skip was an honest and hardworking man who loved his family, country, cars and O.S.U. and that order changed daily. He believed in a greater power and a greater good and looked forward to what was next in his life and seeing all his loved ones that had passed before him.

Those family members that survive include his wife Sharon Yates, of the home, sons Christopher Yates of Holdenville, OK, Corey Yates and wife Stephanie of Claremore, his grandchildren, Breanna Yates, Grayson Ricketts, and Lily Ricketts, his sisters, Susan (Hammett) Krackov of Claremore and Jai (Hammett) Archer of Arkansas, his brother, David Yates and wife Paula of Claremore, brother-in-law, John Brown and wife Linda of Owasso, nephews, Derek Yates, Justin Brown, Marc Brown, Zach Brown, and Jason Srader, nieces, Kristin Hamblin and husband Jonathan, Randi Harris, and Debi Bilby, great nieces, Kayla Hamblin, Lily Hamblin, Lacey Hamblin, Claire Hamblin, Riley Yates, Tristan Yates, Cassie Ridge, and Destinee Angel, great nephews, Chase Ridge and Blade Dilldine. Skip was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ed and Mary Gregg, his parents, Lawrence F. "Larry" and Elizabeth J. "Betty" Yates and Lanelle (Hammett) Yates, his mother-in-law Billie Brown, his sisters, Mary E. "Beth" Chappell and Mary (Hammett) Hamilton, his brothers, Jim Hammett and Mark Hammett.

Skip requested no formal funeral service but a visitation only gathering. The family will greet friends and colleagues on Tuesday, November 4th from 5:30 until 7:00 pm. Visitation is located at MMS Payne Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 102 W. 5th Street, Claremore, OK 74017.

In leu of flowers, please consider a donation to J. R. Hooper VFW Post and Auxiliary #2976, 1717 W. Dupont St., Claremore, OK 74017.