Dorothy Mary Yates

August 30, 1919- July 3, 2025  "A cheerful heart is good medicine" Proverbs 17:22a Earth's loss is Heaven's gain, a precious soul is home. Always a smile, an encouragement or a word of wisdom to share, she most surely heard God say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Dorothy Mary Yates, fondly known as Dolly, was born into humble beginnings at 50 Clavering Place, Annfield Plain in County Durham, England to Thomas and Georgina Robson, a coal hewer and charlady. She was the third born of five sisters and a baby brother who died at 2 years old. She left school at the age of 14 and went to work at W.H. Smith, a nationwide bookstore and newsagents. this was also the year she was born again and began attending church. She met George Albert Yates in Doncaster where they were both living and on March 23, 1940, they married at Doncaster Pentecostal Church followed by the birth of their only son, Paul, in July 1941. Mostly a homemaker, Dolly was always learning new things. She took piano lessons so she could accompany George when he sang at church. She was often asked to speak at smaller churches when no Pastor was available. She took swimming, art and horse-riding lessons and the occasional temporary job taking census or chaperoning the youth at the local recreation center. She nearly always had a dog to walk with and keep her company when George, a baker and confectioner, was on night shift. He predeceased her in April 1984, beginning a whole new chapter in Dolly's life. After 3 years of spending 6 months in the U.S. every winter, Dolly sold her house and emigrated to be with her only family. She soon made friends, joined Bible study groups and led a prayer support team for a missionary in the Philippines. This led her to going on a mission trip at the age of 73, with her granddaughter Miriam, motorcycle being the chosen transport! She always wanted to be productive and make folks laugh. After a few hospitalizations she started knitting baby hats for the newborns to "give back." For many years she took a long summer vacation in England to visit friends and relatives, until it became too difficult. She started giving "tea talks" at various ladies' groups and was encouraged to write her stories. She wrote 3 books starting in 2009, "Tales from the Teapot," "One Heart, Two Countries," and "Share My Gold." She never missed an opportunity to share her faith and touched many lives. In 2005, she proudly became an American citizen after rejecting a Euro passport renewal. "If I can't be British, I will be an American citizen!" Whilst Dolly didn't get to see her grandchildren grow up, she was blessed to be in the U.S. for all her great grandchildren, and they all loved her dearly. She is survived by her son Paul and his wife Lesley, granddaughters Alicia Scott (Robert), Lois Haley (John), Miriam Winkler (Chris), great grandchildren Morgan Haley, Olivia Fenton, Johnnie Elyse Haley, Octavia Scott, Luke Haley, Owen Scott, Gavin Haley, Grey Haley, Ellie Winkler, Paul Haley, AJ Winkler, Summer Haley, Gracie Winkler, great great grandchildren Safa Haley and Jack Fenton. 

A Celebration of Life will be on Monday, July 28, 2025 at 11am at Church of the Redeemer, 19425 Woodfield Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20879. The livestream can be found at http://church-redeemer.org/funeral.

Dolly requests anyone wishing to show their respect to be in the form of a donation to her favorite charity to help children in Uganda. Amazima Ministries, P.O. Box 682521 Franklin, TN 37068 http://www.amazima.org.

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