Mark Duane Yates

Yates, Mark Duane, Age 56 May 2, 2016 of Livonia. Beloved son of Harold and Wilma Yates. Loving father of the late Ashley Yates. Funeral Service Friday 11 AM at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 W. Ann Arbor Rd., (btwn Sheldon & Beck) Plymouth. Visitation Thursday 4-8 PM. Interment Riverside Cemetery, Plymouth. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. To share a memory please use the Share a Memory tab on this web page. Born to Harold & Wilma Yates on December 11, 1959. Mark graduated from high school and settled down with this childhood sweetheart Nicole. They had a daughter and named her Ashley. He was a wonderful father to Ashley. He lost Nicole at a young age to a car accident and then lost his beloved daughter at the age of 22. Loving; caring; super intelligent and a self-taught man; he had an interest in everything and researched on his own to gain information; empathetic to the point of giving; shared what he learned with people who would listen. He had a big heart and often told his Mom, Dad, family and friends that he loved them. Mark took care of his Dad for the past eight years when his Dad’s health started failing. The last few years he and his Dad became extremely close and had long talks about history. The morning of the day Mark died, he told his Mom and Dad how much he loved them. Mark loved animals and animals loved him back. His dog Heidi will greatly miss him. Mark and his best friend Nancy had long talks and shared confidences with each other. Mark loved her immensely. Nancy loved him back and Mark was grateful to have her to share with. Kind heart and wore it on his sleeve and would give anyone what he had. He was always smiling. Over the past several years he read the Bible and his knowledge grew about the Bible. He had lengthy talks with people and enjoyed sharing his knowledge – he was a true believer and stated there was a better place waiting for him. Mark went through hardships and suffering in his life but he did not dwell on the suffering – he was an encouragement to everyone about the good parts of life. He recognized hardships and suffering in other people’s lives and went out of his way to show compassion to them. As Mark was growing up he shared many good times with his Uncle LeRoy and his Dad as they were passionate about fishing together. In recent years he created a fairy garden because he knew his Mom would share that interest. His creation is beautiful and he and his Mom loved working on it together.

Mark Duane Yates

December 11, 1959 - May 2, 2016