Theo Yates, age 86, passed away at his home on Monday, May 31st. He was the son of the late Sylvan and Dacie Stanley Yates. Mr. Yates was a graduate of Ervinton High School and a coal operator for many years. He was Pastor of the Clintwood Bible Church for 27 years and taught a Bible study class called Learning to Lean Bible Teaching Ministry on radio station WDIC for 30 years. He served in the Navy during World War II aboard the USS Terror (CM-5). He was a member of the American Legion Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Yates was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvan Yates; two brothers, Holmes and Foster Yates; two sisters, Osia Stanley and Agnes Salyer; one granddaughter, Bonnie Davis. Survivors are his wife, Oleta White Yates; three sons, Palmer Yates and wife Mildred, Mike Yates and wife Anita, Terry Yates and wife Tammie, all of Clintwood; three daughters; Linda Childress and husband, David, Debbie Hill and husband, Shirles, Greta Davis, all of Clintwood; two brothers, A.L. Yates of Clintwood and Phillip Lee of Big Stone Gap; one sister, Zella Mullins of Clintwood; twelve grandchildren, Kim Childress Carroll and husband, Bill, Brett Childress and wife, Aleta, Melissa Yates McKern and husband, Toby, Laura Yates Campoli and husband, Justin, Angie Yates Price and husband Eric, Valerie Yates Micalizzi and husband Matt, Tony Yates and wife Amanda, Amanda Davis Whitaker and husband Travis, Steven Davis, Emily Yates, Andrea Yates and Blake Yates plus eleven great grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, June 4th, 11:00 AM at the Clintwood Bible Church with Don Hawkins officiating. Burial will follow at the Zachary Yates Cemetery, Caney Ridge with military rites by the US Navy Honor Team and Dickenson County Honor Team. Pallbearers will be Brett Childress, Tony Yates, Steven Davis, Blake Yates, Bill Carroll, Toby McKern, Justin Campoli, Eric Price, Matt Micalizzi and Travis Whitaker. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of the Clintwood Bible Church, nephews, and USS Terror shipmates. Family will receive friends Thursday, June 3rd, 6:00 PM at the Clintwood Funeral Home Chapel with Don McCann, Estil Amburgey and John Farmer officiating.