Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Ellen Yates, age 87 of DeBerry, Texas, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at DeBerry Baptist Church with Bro. Dick Sawyer and Bro. Hal Rymel officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. Interment will follow in DeBerry Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Mrs. Yates passed away on Friday morning, March 20, 2009 in Carthage.

Mary Ellen Lawless Yates was born on April 2, 1921 in Panola County, Texas, one of seven children born to the marriage of Arthur Hearne and Pearl Ann Lawless. Mrs. Yates attended DeBerry and Carthage schools and graduated from Carthage High School with the class of 1938. She married George Truett Yates on March 3, 1944. She worked as a homemaker, a clerk at Yates Bros. Grocery in Shreveport, and most of all, was a loving mother. She loved her yard, her cats, and her family. When she was active, Mrs. Yates was a member of the Eastern Star, DeBerry Community Center, DeBerry Riding Club, and the A& M mother's club. She lived most of her life in Panola County and was a member of the DeBerry Baptist Church. Mrs. Yates was preceded in death by her husband on April 30, 1968; four brothers, Bony W. Lawless, Harvey O. Lawless, Dee H. Lawless, and Grady Lake Lawless; two sisters, Mavis Lawless Greer and Cleo Lawless Ivy.

Mrs. Yates is survived by three sons, Danny Yates of DeBerry, Darrell Yates and wife Kathryn of DeBerry, and Dr. Dean Yates and wife Shelley of Carthage; ten grandchildren, Jennifer Register and husband Toby, Nathan Yates, Chad Yates, Jason Yates, Brian Yates, Matthew Yates and wife Jeanie, Cassie Yates, Jessica Yates, Eric Yates, and Caroline Yates; three great-grandchildren, Todd and Jillian Register and Nevaeh Yates; and special friend, Deanie McGee. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends also survive Mrs. Yates.

Serving as pallbearers are Nathan Yates, Chad Yates, Jason Yates, Brian Yates, Matthew Yates, Eric Yates, and Harold York, Jr. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Jennifer Yates, Cassie Yates, Jessica Yates, and Caroline Yates.

If desired, memorials may be made to DeBerry Baptist Church, P.O. Box 422, DeBerry, TX 75639.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.