November 26, 1984 – September 11, 2024

 

It is with great sorrow that the family of James (Jimmy) Allen Yates announce that his sun set on September 11, 2024.

James (Jimmy) Allen Yates was born in Fairview, AB, on November 26, 1984, to his parents Dave and Trish Yates. His sister Kimberly joined the family when she was born in Fairview, AB, two years later. The Yates family then moved to Wembley, AB, for Jimmy’s early childhood years, and moved once more when Jimmy was in Grade 1 to Grande Prairie, AB.

Jimmy had met his soon to be wife October, in 2004, and they were married on June 9, 2007. They were blessed one year later with a healthy young boy, J David Wallace Yates, on April 8, 2008. Jim and his family lived in Grande Prairie until they moved to Webster, AB, in 2013, where their home became known as the RZR Ranch, where so many people came together and shared so many memories. Jimmy lived an adventurous, curious, and child-like life, he was never afraid of a challenge, he took life by the horns, and always wondered where that next trail led to. He was always there for anyone who needed him, especially his son, and the “don’t ask questions, if you don’t want to know the answers to” stories. Jimmy never wanted to just coast through life, he always wanted to find the next adventure and create the most memories that were guaranteed to make a person go “really?”

Jimmy was a very skilled self-taught blacksmith, mechanic, curious scientist and the epitome of a “jack-of-all-trades”. If he wanted to learn, he was all in, and within a week he’d be a walking encyclopedia and could teach anyone. When Jimmy had met Jessica Potter in 2021, unbeknownst to each-other, they would become each other’s adventure partners and soulmates. Together they took on every adventure that came their way, along with their blended family that consisted of 3 children, J David Wallace Yates, Autumn Lilly-Ann Zylinski and Matthew Zylinski, and always came back with some incredible stories.

Jimmy and Jess moved into Sexsmith in September of 2022, and later bought a house in August 2023, where they continued travelling, kayaking, hiking, car rides, and even late-night bike rides. When they weren’t adventuring, they were trying every type of food out there that peaked Jimmy’s interest. He even had J try pig intestines, once. Just once. The world lost a good soul incomprehensibly on September 11, 2024.

Jim will be forever missed by his mother Trish Yates, his sister Kim (Matt) Thibault, his son J David Wallace Yates, October Yates (mother of J), his adventure partner Jessica Potter, stepdaughter Autumn Lilly Ann Scott, stepson Matthew Zylinski, and his niece Jasmin Victoria Aqua Thibault.

Jimmy was predeceased by his grandpa Ken Smith and his father Dave Yates.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 1:00pm at the Bear Lake Campground, 724072 Range Road 72, County of Grande Prairie No. 1, AB.

Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780 830 7742 bcfh.ca

• Date : 2024-09-11
• Location : Grande Prairie, AB

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