Obituary of Martha E. Yates

Martha Elizabeth Yates, 66, of 32 Vista Way Lakewood, NY passed away at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, September 14, 2014, in her home. An area resident for most of her life, she was born September 25, 1947 in Jamestown, NY, to Phillip Donley Yates and Jane Elizabeth "Betty" Jungjohann Yates Sheldon. Martha was a graduate of the Pine Richland High School in Gibsonia, PA. In earlier years she was employed by the IBM Company in Pittsburgh and later worked at the The Green Farm in Lakewood. Martha was a member of the Lakewood Garden Club and was very active in the founding of the Jamestown Chapter of the National Association of Mentally Ill. Her own battle with cancer led her to become an advocate for other cancer survivors. She loved her flower garden and photography, and will be remembered as a wonderful mother, sister and friend. She was a great communicator, often keeping in touch with distant family members and friends. "Aunt Martha" was especially fond of her nieces and nephews and their children. She proudly followed their activities and accomplishments. During her most recent struggle with cancer, she was surrounded by an outstanding team of private caregivers in addition to the physicians, nurses and staff of Hospice Chautauqua County; many of them commented on her wry smile, wit and kindness. She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepfather Ralph C. Sheldon, Jr. and several nieces and nephews Surviving is her beloved son,, Marc Jason Sturtz of Lakewood, nine brothers and sisters, Phillip D. (Mary Anne Harp) Yates, Jr. of Lakewood, NY, Leigh T. (Sharon Lisciandro) Yates of Lakewood, NY, P. Christian (Penelope Hutton) Yates of Jamestown, NY, Jane Y. (Fritz) Gram of Cuba, NY, Linda K. (James C. Hanks, III) Yates of Greenhurst, NY, Bettina Y. (James) Wilkinson of Valencia, PA, George E. (Elizabeth McEnroe) of Virginia Beach, VA, Nancy Y. (Philip) Cala of Greenhurst, NY and Robert E. (Rene) Yates of Ashville, NY, as well as many nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Daniel Cook, pastor of the Lakewood Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. The family requests that memorials be directed to the Betty Sheldon Starflight Fund, c/o The W.C.A. Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 214, Jamestown, NY 14702-0214 or to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 West Fairmount Ave. Lakewood, NY 14750.