Herschel Dean Yates

Herschel Dean Yates of Benton passed away on Sunday, February 16th, 2014. He was on August 13, 1930 in Carterville, Missouri to the late Cecil and Edith Yates. He was named for Dizzy Dean, the Cardinal baseball player. He played semi pro baseball for a short time. He retired from the Arkansas State Police as a Sergeant after 25 years of service. While working in Hot Springs, he gave future Governor and President Bill Clinton his driver test when he was 16. He was later Head of Security at the Governor's Mansion and the State Capitol Complex while Mr. Clinton was governor. He was a member of Parkview United Methodist Church in Benton. Herschel was a Master Mason for 60 years at Aurora Lodge in Portsmouth, Ohio and a 32rd degree Mason at Albert Pike Lodge in Little Rock. He had a great sense of humor and loved making up his own songs to sing to his grandchildren. Herschel leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of over 59 years, Delores; his children Richard (Brandy) of Redfield and Cindy (Mike White) Yates of North Little Rock; his sister Annamae (Robert) Cochran of Pickens, South Carolina; his brother, William (Clarisse) Yates and his sister, Letitia Jo Mott both of Perth, Ontario, Canada and his brother, Floyd (Linda) Yates of Corpus Christi, Texas; his grandchildren R. Aaron (Stephanie) Yates of Bryant, Melissa (Joseph) Madrigal and Michael Williams, both of San Angelo, Texas, Mason Stewart of Arkadelphia, and Tyler Stewart of Jonesboro; his great-grandchildren Melody and Harmony Madrigal and a host of extended family and friends, all who will miss him dearly. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at Griffin Leggett Forest Hills Funeral Home, 10200 Hwy 5 North, Alexander, Arkansas 72002 (501) 455-1067. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at the funeral home with Father Darrell Stayton and Reverend Walt Garrett officiating. Entombment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park with the State Police Honor Guard serving as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Parkview United Methodist Church, 514 N Border St., Benton, Ark. 72015. Please share your memories of Herschel at www.griffinleggettforesthills.com.