LUCY MARIE YATES

Lucy Marie Yates, age 82, passed away at her home August 15, 2025. She was born October 24, 1942, in Buchanan County, to the late Vince and Virgie Compton. Lucy was a retired salesperson at B&L Furniture where she worked for 30 years. Still to this day so many customers remember her from her time there. She was a devoted member of Russell Prater Old Regular Baptist Church. Lucy loved spending time with her family, cooking, quilting, and going to church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Chester; her parents; four sisters, Dolly Compton, Janice Compton, Ruby Yates, and Madlean Yates; brothers, Bob Compton and Homer Compton; and a half-brother, Hosie Compton, along with several brothers and sisters-in- law.
Survivors include her children, Denise (Avery) Hackney, Michael (Kelly) Yates, Mark (Diane) Yates; grandchildren, Ashley (John) Keen, Adam (Amber) Yates, Tonya Gilbert, Katelin (Tyler) Osborne, Kristy (fiancée Jeramy) Yates, Sara (Matt) Lester, and Wendy (Marshall) Duncan; great-grandchildren, Lily Yates, Luke Keen, Elizabeth Yates, Kiptyn Gilbert, Madix Gilbert, Isaac Yates, Natalie Duncan, Rylee Keen, Bennett Duncan, Jeramy “JW” Gibson, and Kalynn Gibson; one brother, Harold Compton.
Chester and Lucy shared a beautiful marriage of 64 years. Together they built a life together rooted in deep love, respect, and appreciation for each other. They served as a model of commitment and love to everyone that knew them.
Lucy showed her love through food. She took pleasure in putting together home cooked meals for her family. Lucy’s cooking has brought her family together for generations and those recipes she shared will live on for many more years. Her home was always filled with the aroma of her special meals, even if it was the smell of salmon patties she made for Chester. You could often find her family gathered in her home for Sunday dinners. There you could hear the sound of laughter, children playing, and the comforting noises coming from the kitchen. It was always loud but there was no place we would rather be. So many memories were made at those Sunday dinners.
Another one of Lucy’s many talents was quilting. She loved to gift her family with quilts she had made over the years. She took her supplies everywhere and was always busy with her hands. She spent many, many hours working on them.
Lucy loved going to church. She shared her deep faith by traveling to sister churches where she made many lifelong friends. She loved to sing church songs and loved even more to hear them. Many times she would cook for her church friends and invite them to her home. She enjoyed this so much and would prepare for days. Lucy never met a stranger and would welcome anyone into her home and offer to feed them.
She loved to hold her grandchildren and great-grandchildren throughout the years. When the weather was warm she would make a b line for the porch swing. You would often find her swinging with a baby in her arms and singing church songs.
Lucy was intentional with her love. When her grandchildren were growing up she and Chester would set aside a day during the summer to take them places. She made them feel special and always made sure they knew she loved them. Once her grandchildren were older they traveled to visit them and continued to spend that quality time with them while now visiting her great-grandchildren.
Many individuals would compliment Lucy over the years about her smooth and wrinkle free skin. For so many years she appeared timeless. Her beauty was so much deeper than just the skin. She had a beauty deep within that she showed with her generosity and love. 
We have been blessed to know such a selfless, loving, and caring woman. We should all strive to love others the way she loved her family and church. We all appreciate her devotion to us, her family, and hope she knew how special she was to each and every one of us. She will be missed but the values she instilled in her family will live on.
Thank you to her special caregiver Sandra Coleman and Special Care Hospice and Home Health.
Funeral services was conducted 11 a.m. Monday, August 18, 2025 at Russell Prater Old Regular Baptist Church with Elders Andy Deel, Roger Coleman, Mark Justice, and Denny Deel officiating. Burial followed in the Compton Cemetery, Haysi. Pallbearers were John Keen, Adam Yates, Tyler Osborne, Jeramy Gibson, Matt Lester, and Marshall Duncan. Honorary pallbearers were Luke Keen, Kiptyn Gilbert, Madix Gilbert, Isaac Yates, Bennett Duncan, and Jeramy “JW” Gibson. The family received friends after 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 17, 2025 at the church where an evening service was held at 7 pm. Online condolences may be sent to www.haysifuneral.com.
Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.