Patsy Jean Wood Yates, of Miller Grove, Texas, passed away in her home on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at the age of 92, surrounded by loved ones.
Patsy was born in Miller Grove, Texas, on November 6, 1933, to Burl and Blanche Wood. She grew up in Miller Grove where she was an active member of the Greenview Baptist Church.
She attended Miller Grove High School, where she played on the girls’ basketball team before graduating in 1951.
After high school, Patsy left Miller Grove and moved to Dallas to work. There she was introduced to the love of her life, Odell Yates, by his sister, Alyne. For their first date, he invited her to a wrestling match at The Sportatorium in Dallas. When they became engaged a short six weeks later, Alyne got upset, and is reported to have said, “I just wanted y’all to date; I didn’t expect you to get married.” They married in December of 1952, and welcomed their only child, Terry Dale, in October of 1953. Shortly after Terry’s birth, Patsy began working as a Customer Service Representative at Dallas Water Utilities.
Odell and Patsy built their dream home in Miller Grove, Texas in December 1974 where they were active members of New Shirley Baptist Church. They commuted together to Dallas for close to twenty years.
In 1977, Patsy’s department moved to the newly built Dallas City Hall building designed by acclaimed architect I.M. Pei. She eventually retired from the city after 31 years of service.
Patsy was well known for her amazing cooking and meticulous housekeeping. She loved to garden and share vegetables with friends and neighbors. She volunteered at the food bank and was always the first one to show up with a fresh cooked meal when someone was sick or passed away. She also called Bingo at the Senior Center for “the old folks” although she was already in her eighties.
Patsy deeply desired to pass away in her home, and she was afforded the ability to do so thanks to the many loving caregivers who cared for her over the past three years, including her great niece, Julie Knight.
Patsy was preceded in death by her parents, Burl and Blanch Wood; her beloved husband, Odell; her brothers William Carroll Wood and Doyle Wood; her sister Dahlia Dicken, and her great- grandson Andrew Yates.
She is survived by son Terry Dale Yates and his wife Jill of Mesquite, grandchildren Tara Brock of Sunnyvale and husband Brandon, Tamara Odom of Miller Grove and husband Jef, John Yates of Miller Grove, Janna Whitehead of McKinney and husband Jared. She was a great-grandmother to Conner Wilcox and wife Michelle, Kennedy Wilcox, Addy and Zoey Brock, Chase Odom and wife Deserae, Sabrina Boyd, Jaxson and Ezra Odom, Jesse and Audrey Yates, Paxton and Maddox Biggs, and Sophie and Vivian Whitehead. Great-great grandchildren include Brennlie, Wesley, Maverick, and Kolter. Additionally, she is survived by her precious sister Barbara Lennon and husband Clinton, sister-in-law Mary Lou Smith, a host of nieces and nephews, church family, and friends who will all greatly miss her.
Funeral service for Mrs. Yates will be held on Tuesday, March 3rd at 3:00 pm at West Oaks Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service. Internment will immediately follow at Greenview Cemetery in Brashear, Texas.
