Affectionately known as Pug, Willie was born in Chicta, Texas on Aug. 28, 1920. He passed from this life in Turlock on June 20, 2010 at the age of 89 years. Pug moved to Arizona in 1942, where he met and married Alva Maxine (Myers) Yeley. Together they moved to Porterville and worked in the labor camps from 1944 to 1948. In 1948 Pug started working for Tidewater Oil until he retired. Pug and Maxine moved to the Delhi / Turlock area in 1979.
Willie is survived by his wife of 66 years, Maxine; daughter, Willie Jo (Gary) Cates of Kennesaw, Ga.; sons, Reverend Louis (Donna) W. Yeley of McKinleyville and Jackie (Carolyn) Dale Yeley of Hanford; six grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and brother, Harold David Yeley. Willie was preceded in death by grandson, Brian Leon Cates; his father, Jack Sullivin Yeley; and his mother, Daisy Mae Yeley.
Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 24 at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., with services following at 10 a.m. Private committal will take place at Turlock Memorial Park.
Willie is survived by his wife of 66 years, Maxine; daughter, Willie Jo (Gary) Cates of Kennesaw, Ga.; sons, Reverend Louis (Donna) W. Yeley of McKinleyville and Jackie (Carolyn) Dale Yeley of Hanford; six grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and brother, Harold David Yeley. Willie was preceded in death by grandson, Brian Leon Cates; his father, Jack Sullivin Yeley; and his mother, Daisy Mae Yeley.
Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 24 at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., with services following at 10 a.m. Private committal will take place at Turlock Memorial Park.
