George Anthony Yates

George “Anthony” Yates, 51, of Statesville, NC, formally of Vansant, VA passed away Sunday, September 20, 2015 at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville, after a courageous fight with the complications of Severe Black Lung Disease.             Anthony was born August 13, 1964 in Grundy, VA to Vern and Wanda Dotson Yates of Vansant, VA. He was a 1982 graduate of Garden High School, where he was a member of the Garden Green Dragons Football and Baseball Team. He was an avid NASCAR fan and fulfilled his passion for racing at the Coeburn International Raceway in Coeburn, VA, where he raced in the Limited Sportsman Class and earned the title of 1992 Rookie of the Year. He also enjoyed participating in “Dirt” racing at the Wytheville Raceway in Wytheville, VA and Taylorsville Raceway in Taylorsville, NC. He also participated and traveled as a pit crew member in the NASCAR Slim Jim All-Pro Racing Series. He enjoyed camping, riding motorcycles and fabricating. He was last employed as a Die Sitter for GKN North America in Conover, NC and was a former Coal Miner. He was also a member of Abilene Church of Christ.             Anthony was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bill and Fannie Dotson and Floyd and Rosie Yates and his beloved Maltese, Taylor.             In addition to his parents, left to cherish his memory is the love of his life, his wife of 26 years, Lethy Marie Looney Yates of Statesville, NC; two step-sons, Jason Mullins of Statesville, Brandon Ryan Mullins; four granddaughters, Savannah Mullins of Statesville, Kaytelynn and Kairah-Shea Mullins of Kannapolis, NC and Baley Mullins of Landis, NC. He is also survived by his sister, Tammy (Harley) Mitchem of Haysi, one brother, Jackie Dean (Marlo) Yates of Cedar Bluff, VA, VA, step-sister, Brenda Kay Castro of Wellford, SC, mother-in-law, Mary Looney of Vansant, VA and two special Maltese’ Casey and Cody.             Memorial services will be conducted 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Abilene Church of Christ with Leon Cash and Dave Olson officiating. The family will visit with friends Wednesday evening 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Church. Burial will be held in the Parrot Deel Cemetery in Haysi, VA. On Saturday, September 26, 2015.             In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org or to the American Lung Association, www.lung.org . Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Anthony Yates.