Jay R. Yates

Jay R. Yates, 61, of Hudson, WI, formerly of Newton, passed away peacefully with his family by his side December 23, 2024. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 2, 2025, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. The family will greet friends from 10-11 a.m., Thursday, January 2, 2025, at the funeral home. Memorials to the First United Methodist Church can be left at the funeral home.

Jay was born to Jerry O. and Betty K. (Ezell) Yates in Pauls Valley, OK on March 10, 1963. The Maytag Company brought the family to Newton, where Jay grew up. He graduated from Newton High School in 1981. At the age of 19, Jay moved back to Oklahoma to work in the oil fields for his uncle’s oil company. He became a radioactive specialist certified through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and was responsible for wiring explosives. He also worked at Tinker Air Force Base briefly before moving back to Iowa in 1989. Upon his return, he took a job in the factory at Maytag, only to quickly transfer to the IT Department as a Systems Engineer. Jay remained with Maytag until its Whirlpool acquisition, working his way up to Director, Data Center Operations and Network Services. He transferred with Whirlpool to St. Joseph, MI in 2006, where his responsibility grew to Global Director, Network Engineering and Services. In 2011, a new job opportunity took him to Atlanta, GA with Coca-Cola. Atlanta was a long distance from family so when a former Maytag colleague called to offer him a position at 3M in Minnesota, he took it. Jay worked for 3M from 2013 to his retirement in 2022. He ended his career as IT Leader over North, South, and Central America.

Jay was an avid fisherman and hunter. His favorite pastime was fishing for flathead catfish in the Mississippi River with his son. He also enjoyed duck and pheasant hunting. Jay’s hunting dog, Macy, was his faithful companion during pheasant hunting. He also enjoyed turkey hunting when living in Iowa. While growing up he made money by trapping and selling the animal pelts.

Jay’s greatest joy was his family. On May 23, 1992, Jay married Chandra Cooper in Newton. They were blessed with 4 children: Cassandra Kay, Krysten Danielle, Whitney Jaylea, and Marshall Bryant. The couple divorced in 2019 but reconnected in 2022. They remained close friends and spoke daily. Jay’s family will remember his dry sense of humor, his love for classic rock, and most of all his stubbornness. Jay would argue with a fencepost as long as he got the last word!

Those left to honor Jay’s legacy are his parents, Jerry and Betty Yates of Newton, a brother, Jeff (Shelly) Yates of Ankeny; his four children: Cassie (Matt) Voigtlander of Waukee, Krysten (Sam) Monte of Stevensville, MI, Whitney (James) Georgakas of Ellsworth, WI and Marshall Yates of St. Joseph, MI. His grandchildren, Kaylan Snyder, Scarlet and Brinna Voightlander, Amelia and AJ Monte, and two grandbabies due in the summer 2025. He is also survived by two nieces, Jenna Clasing and Jordan Yates-Stone.