Rachel Inez Sears Yates
August 26, 1912 â€" April 18, 2010
Rachel Inez Sears Yates, loving wife and mother and devoted church nursery director, died Monday morning, April 18, 2010 at home in Clayton, NC with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. She was born August 26, 1912 in Morrisville, NC to Frederick and Bertha (Searls) Sears, the third of nine brothers and sisters. During her lifetime, she remembered Wake County with no electricity or phone lines, she recalled riding to church with her family in a horse and buggy, and she marveled at the coming of computers and the Internet (sending e-mails to friends in Shelby when in her 90s).
She married Joseph Clair Yates of the Green Level community in Apex in 1933 and saw him safely return from active duty in the US Navy during WWII. Rachel's firstborn, a daughter named Patsy Lorraine, was mentally handicapped, and she lovingly cared for her in the Yates home until her death at age 46 in 1988. After the war, Joe and Rachel moved to Shelby, NC where their second daughter was born. The Yates family were active members of First Baptist Church in Shelby for over 50 years, and Rachel was director and nursery worker of the Preschool Department there for over 30 years. She delighted in teaching toddlers about Jesus, in reading Bible stories to them every Sunday, and in singing with them as she played the piano or autoharp.
Following a crime in her neighborhood, Rachel decided to move to Clayton, NC in 2003 to live with her daughter and son-in-law. She has made her home in Clayton for the past 7 Â1/2 years, and has enjoyed being able to spend time with her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews and their families. She was delighted to be friends with the many caring folks of Horne Memorial United Methodist Church, where her funeral service will be held. Although it was hard to leave her home in Shelby, Rachel made the move with grace and a positive outlook, one of her most charming qualities. She remained upbeat and positive, even as her health failed, and always had jokes or stories to share with her many gracious visitors.Survivors include her daughter Jo Anne and son-in-law Alan P. Swartz of Clayton; grandson Joseph Paul Swartz of Clayton; grandson John Mark and wife Jennifer Upshaw Swartz of Novato, CA;brother Daniel H. Sears of Raleigh, NC; sister Margaret Ozie and husband Clifton Watson of Durham, NC; brother John and wife Maggie Belle Sears of Apex, NC ; and several nieces and nephews. Rachel's caregiver (when her daughter was teaching school), Peggy Smith, is also listed with the family because her loving care was so appreciated by Mrs. Yates and the family.Visitation will be Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 10 AM at Horne Memorial United Methodist Church in Clayton with the funeral following at 11 AM, the Reverend Dr. Alan P. Swartz officiating. Graveside service and burial will be at 2 PM Thursday, April 22, 2010 at Cleveland Memorial Park, Shelby NC. Memorial gifts may be made to Johnston Memorial Home Care and Hospice, P.O. Box 1376, Smithfield, NC 27577 or to First Baptist Church, 120 N. LaFayette St., Shelby, NC 28150. Arrangements are by McLaurin at Pinecrest Memorial Park Funerals & Cremations, US 70 W, Clayton, NC.As Rachel Yates is received into her heavenly home, her life of faith and loving service bears witness to these words of St. Paul: “...neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.â€
