Michael Yates

Michael Andrew Yates 8/10/50-3/6/2021 Mike was born in Indiana to Brice and Joann Yates, where he and his brother Jim grew up on a farm. He attended Northfield Highschool and played division one basketball at Eastern Illinois University where he received a business degree. He began his career selling computers, and then cars in Indiana, when he decided he’d like to head west to Arizona. He was a talented salesman and a determined businessman, which carried him into his future. It was in Arizona that he met his wife of 39 years, Janine, and started a family. Throughout the past 39 years, Mike was a self made automobile dealer, owning Yates Buick GMC, in Goodyear, which started as GMC Truck Country in Avondale. His life’s work was his family and his dealership, both of which made him extremely proud. Throughout his life in the West Valley, Mike was a champion for expanding growth to the west. He served as the president for the capital campaign to help build what is now the current St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. He served on many boards: The Diamondbacks Charities, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Make-a-Wish Arizona. He founded the West Valley Mavericks, a charity organization designed to help communities in the West Valley. Helping the children of Arizona was his passion, and he’d always lend a hand to those in need. Mike was an avid golfer, and his family will always feel his presence at the Wigwam Golf Course, where he spent the past 39 years socializing and golfing in his spare time. He supported his kids, never missing an Agua Fria Owls game, where he cheered on his son in all sports and his daughter while she was a cheerleader. Mike and Janine were permanent fixtures in the stands and often sold snacks for the booster clubs and were well known by all the teens. Mike and Janine spent a great deal of time in one of their favorite places, Coronado, CA, where they enjoyed their children and grandchildren, golf, and boating. Mike had a zest for life and lived to the fullest every day. His smile and ability to make others feel comfortable will be sorely missed. His only regret would be not getting long enough to enjoy one part of life he was very excited about, being a grandpa. In honor of Mike, his family asks that you continue to wear a mask and take COVID-19 precautions seriously. Mike did, and he was still taken from us by this pandemic. Mike leaves behind his beloved wife, Janine, their two children Tyler (Desra) and Whitney (Coty), two grandchildren who he adored, Mikey and Blake, and his brother Jim (Rayne), his nieces Laura (Mike), Cheyenne, nephew James (Tammy), and wonderful friends who were like family over the years to the Yates’s. His family is confident that Mike is resting in Paradise with the Lord. A viewing will be Sunday 3/14 at Menke Funeral & Cremation Center, 12420 N 103rd Ave, Sun City, AZ 85351 from 3:00-5:00 pm and a funeral service will be Monday 3/15 at 1:00 pm at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 13720 W Thomas Rd, Avondale, AZ 85392. An outdoor reception on the lawn at the Wigwam Resort will follow funeral services. Social distancing and masks will be required. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the “Michael Yates Memorial Scholarship Fund”. All donations are tax deductible and will benefit students graduating from Agua Fria High School, the high school Michael’s children attended. Please visit https://avondalegoodyeareducationfoundation.org/donate/ and write “Michael Yates” in the comment line. This webpage also includes instructions for how you may donate via check.