Obituary of Burton Lee Yates, Jr.

Cuba – Burton Lee Yates, Jr. “Loving Husband, Father, & Grandfather” Burton Lee Yates, Jr of 2475 Route 305 Cuba, passed away on November 26th, 2021, in Olean General Hospital following a brief illness. Lee was born in Cuba on December 26th, 1959. He was the son of Burton Lee Yates, Sr and Mary Lee Wilkins. He is survived by the love of his life, Cindy, whom he married on November 17th, 1978. Lee graduated from Portville Central School in 1978 as well as Olean BOCES where he took up welding. He worked for Palmer Airmotive at the Wellsville Airport where he worked on planes. He later followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and worked in the oil fields in the Allegany, NY and Bradford, PA area. He was employed by Pennzoil Company for about 14 years and then East Resources for another several years. Truly a man who loved the oil field and hard work, he also enjoyed producing oil on a lease he owned for several years in Obi. He was currently employed for the Town of Clarksville Highway Department where he started in 1999. Lee will be remembered as a hardworking, gentle man who was willing to help many around his community. In the 1980’s, he worked with the youth in the Richburg area in the AWANA program at Richburg First Day Baptist Church, where he also served on the Deacon Board. He always made sure his family was provided for and was not too proud to take any job to make sure there was food on their table. Lee was an avid outdoors man and hard worker who enjoyed his motorcycles, tractors, and his land. He proudly resided on the homestead owned by his grandparents Darrol and Ethel Wilkins. He loved hosting family gatherings in his pavilion he built on the homestead. The most memorable for family and friends will be his fourth of July celebration in the summer of 2021 where his love of God, Family and Patriotism to his Country were evident to all in attendance. Most of all he loved being able to truly spend time with his wife and family, taking a trip across the country with his wife in 2012, many trips to the Outer Banks and Gospel Cruises with extended family. He attended Obi Community Church and Central Baptist Church in Olean. Along with his loving wife, Cindy, Lee is survived by two children; a daughter, Holly A. Yates of Cuba and a son, Adam L. (Angela) Yates, of Olean three grandchildren, Anson, Hope, and Zachary, Father, Burton L. Yates Sr. of Bolivar, Father-in-Law, Wayne Marsh of Bolivar, three siblings; Tammy (Joe) Blauvelt, Alan (Lara) Yates, Leah (Garth) Witherell, and three step siblings; Darla (Barry) Rockefeller, Barb (Don) Rockefeller, and Dave (Jaime) Gleason and several beloved nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his mother, Mary Lee Gleason, step-father Jerry Gleason, step-mother Nancy Yates, Mother-in-Law Harriet Marsh and a brother, Terrance Lee Yates. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central Baptist Church, Olean or Obi Community Church. At this time a private burial will take place at West Genesee Cemetery Obi. Online condolences may be made at www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com