Beatrice Elizabeth Humphreys Yates

Bea traveled as a military wife with her children until her husband retired after serving 21 years in the Air Force. Bea and her family moved back to Greeneville in 1977 where she was a devoted caregiver to her disabled daughter and a loving mother to her other children. She also worked at GVDC and Family Drug Center. Bea was known and loved for her kind and thoughtful ways to everyone she met. She loved traveling with her family and two dogs.

She attended Greenlawn Baptist Church until illnesses prevented the family from attending.

60 years ago, Bea married the love of her life, Elbert Hassel “Bert” Yates in Knoxville, Tennessee. In this marriage, they had four children: Teresa “Teri” Yates (deceased), Deborah Yates of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Gregory Yates (wife, Donna) of Gulf Breeze, Florida, and Brian Yates of Greeneville. She is also survived by three loving grandchildren: Elizabeth, Jackson, and Emily Yates; two brothers and their spouses: Ted and Vivian Humphreys and R. B. and Clara Humphreys; sister-in-law and best friend: Linda Humphreys; sister-in-law: Jill Nowlin; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

She was the daughter of the late Ray and Hazel Humphreys. She was preceded in death by her husband: Bert Yates; oldest daughter: Teri Yates; son-in-law: Joseph Roy; four sisters: Cleo Buttram, Virginia Anderson, Betty Skinner, and Mary Collins; and one brother: Rex Humphreys.

The family expresses their deepest gratitude to her wonderful and loving caregivers: Mitzi McMillan, Lisa Vine, Marie Davis, Teresa Woods, and Nikki Jones; and also, a special thanks to the staff of Amedisys Hospice Care.

The family will receive friends from 4pm-7pm Thursday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be held at 7:00 pm Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Nathan Leasure officiating.

Interment will be at 11:00 am Friday in GreeneLawn Memory Gardens. Family and friends are asked to meet at 10:00 am Friday at the funeral home to go in procession to the cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Brad Humphreys, Chuck Humphreys, Gary Vine, Don McMillan, Jackson Yates, Joseph Boyd, Stanley Oliver, and David Oliver.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dwayne Collins, Robbie Collins, Danny Humphreys, Chris Cressy, D.J. Nowlin and Eric Sharpe.