Violet Fay Yates (nee Mason, Raines)
Violet Fay Mason was born on April 19, 1936 to Everett Earnest and Effie Caroline Bell Mason. She was delivered by her father at home in rural Carroll County, Tennessee.
When she was two Fay contracted scarlet fever. She could not learn to read and write and yet Fay lived a life that stands as an example of courage, perseverance, kindness and love.
By the time she was 26 most of her sisters had already started families of her own and she wanted to do the same.
In 1964 she married Roy Elmer Raines of Iron Mountain. To that marriage four children were born: Roy Everett, Darlene Louise, David Lee and Marshall Wayne.
Ten years later, Fay's husband Roy died from Parkinson's disease. Her father, Rev. Mason, the rock of her world had already died and her mother was almost 70 years old. Fay's small family began to fall apart so she asked for help from her sisters.
In 1977 Fay married Charles Clifford Yates. That marriage lasted 31 ½ years. For all that time Fay and Clifford lived independently with help from her sisters and a community that, for the most part, embraced and supported them.
To many people they were known as the couple who mowed yards and collected scrap metals and anything else that anyone wanted to give them. For several years they led the lawnmower brigade through the streets of Bismarck, but in 2007 they moved up in status when they received a shiny, green golf cart. Most people agree that they began a trend that may turn Bismarck into the golf cart capitol of Missouri.
With Clifford at the wheel and Fay firmly snapped into her seat belt they rolled along waving, smiling and talking to their many, many friends. More often than not they shared their treasures and Fay's amazing wisdom with those folks whom she described as "less fortunate than us".
Her friendly, optimistic nature carried her through hardships, sorrow, sadness and adversity but never did she fail to smile
During Fay's long and painful illness many people said,
"Why does this have to happen to her? She never did anything wrong."
How many of us imagine that people will someday say of us that we "never did anything wrong."
Oh, sure, Fay was stubborn, hard headed and liked to do things in her own curious way, but she never intentionally harmed anyone and she always forgave those who harmed her. What a legacy that is.
Despite the adversity, the handicaps and the things she did not have, Violet Fay Mason – Raines - Yates had an optimism that some of us can only pray to have. She shivered through the storms but she was always the first one to see the rainbows.
That fragile little woman we all loved
• survived a nervous breakdown
• lived long enough to suffer the loss of her mother,
father and three siblings
• suffered through the brutal murder of her oldest son
• the loss of contact with her grandson Michael
• and the loss of many friends and relative
And, yet she never stopped to feel sorry for herself.
Some days it seemed impossible for Fay to put one foot in front of the other, but she did. For those many long, long weeks it was almost impossible for her to stand, but with the help of her friends, and her family, she kept trying.
There were times when she begged for God to "come and take me home," and there were times when she saw angels
After spending just hours with Fay, one aide said, "I can see that she is going to be a case, but I already love her so it's going to be fine."
Another said, "I just want to put her in my pocket and take her home."
Don't be sad. Remember her smile, her wink, the touch of her hand and know that she is in God's pocket - and she has gone home. And remember these words that she said so many times when talking about the people she had lost,
"I miss them so much, but I know where they are. They're
in a better place and I wouldn't call them back for
anything. You know I wouldn't."
Violet Fay Mason was born on April 19, 1936 to Everett Earnest and Effie Caroline Bell Mason. She was delivered by her father at home in rural Carroll County, Tennessee.
When she was two Fay contracted scarlet fever. She could not learn to read and write and yet Fay lived a life that stands as an example of courage, perseverance, kindness and love.
By the time she was 26 most of her sisters had already started families of her own and she wanted to do the same.
In 1964 she married Roy Elmer Raines of Iron Mountain. To that marriage four children were born: Roy Everett, Darlene Louise, David Lee and Marshall Wayne.
Ten years later, Fay's husband Roy died from Parkinson's disease. Her father, Rev. Mason, the rock of her world had already died and her mother was almost 70 years old. Fay's small family began to fall apart so she asked for help from her sisters.
In 1977 Fay married Charles Clifford Yates. That marriage lasted 31 ½ years. For all that time Fay and Clifford lived independently with help from her sisters and a community that, for the most part, embraced and supported them.
To many people they were known as the couple who mowed yards and collected scrap metals and anything else that anyone wanted to give them. For several years they led the lawnmower brigade through the streets of Bismarck, but in 2007 they moved up in status when they received a shiny, green golf cart. Most people agree that they began a trend that may turn Bismarck into the golf cart capitol of Missouri.
With Clifford at the wheel and Fay firmly snapped into her seat belt they rolled along waving, smiling and talking to their many, many friends. More often than not they shared their treasures and Fay's amazing wisdom with those folks whom she described as "less fortunate than us".
Her friendly, optimistic nature carried her through hardships, sorrow, sadness and adversity but never did she fail to smile
During Fay's long and painful illness many people said,
"Why does this have to happen to her? She never did anything wrong."
How many of us imagine that people will someday say of us that we "never did anything wrong."
Oh, sure, Fay was stubborn, hard headed and liked to do things in her own curious way, but she never intentionally harmed anyone and she always forgave those who harmed her. What a legacy that is.
Despite the adversity, the handicaps and the things she did not have, Violet Fay Mason – Raines - Yates had an optimism that some of us can only pray to have. She shivered through the storms but she was always the first one to see the rainbows.
That fragile little woman we all loved
• survived a nervous breakdown
• lived long enough to suffer the loss of her mother,
father and three siblings
• suffered through the brutal murder of her oldest son
• the loss of contact with her grandson Michael
• and the loss of many friends and relative
And, yet she never stopped to feel sorry for herself.
Some days it seemed impossible for Fay to put one foot in front of the other, but she did. For those many long, long weeks it was almost impossible for her to stand, but with the help of her friends, and her family, she kept trying.
There were times when she begged for God to "come and take me home," and there were times when she saw angels
After spending just hours with Fay, one aide said, "I can see that she is going to be a case, but I already love her so it's going to be fine."
Another said, "I just want to put her in my pocket and take her home."
Don't be sad. Remember her smile, her wink, the touch of her hand and know that she is in God's pocket - and she has gone home. And remember these words that she said so many times when talking about the people she had lost,
"I miss them so much, but I know where they are. They're
in a better place and I wouldn't call them back for
anything. You know I wouldn't."
Violet Fay Yates (nee Mason, Raines)
Violet Fay Mason was born on April 19, 1936 to Everett Earnest and Effie Caroline Bell Mason. She was delivered by her father at home in rural Carroll County, Tennessee.
When she was two Fay contracted scarlet fever. She could not learn to read and write and yet Fay lived a life that stands as an example of courage, perseverance, kindness and love.
By the time she was 26 most of her sisters had already started families of her own and she wanted to do the same.
In 1964 she married Roy Elmer Raines of Iron Mountain. To that marriage four children were born: Roy Everett, Darlene Louise, David Lee and Marshall Wayne.
Ten years later, Fay's husband Roy died from Parkinson's disease. Her father, Rev. Mason, the rock of her world had already died and her mother was almost 70 years old. Fay's small family began to fall apart so she asked for help from her sisters.
In 1977 Fay married Charles Clifford Yates. That marriage lasted 31 ½ years. For all that time Fay and Clifford lived independently with help from her sisters and a community that, for the most part, embraced and supported them.
To many people they were known as the couple who mowed yards and collected scrap metals and anything else that anyone wanted to give them. For several years they led the lawnmower brigade through the streets of Bismarck, but in 2007 they moved up in status when they received a shiny, green golf cart. Most people agree that they began a trend that may turn Bismarck into the golf cart capitol of Missouri.
With Clifford at the wheel and Fay firmly snapped into her seat belt they rolled along waving, smiling and talking to their many, many friends. More often than not they shared their treasures and Fay's amazing wisdom with those folks whom she described as "less fortunate than us".
Her friendly, optimistic nature carried her through hardships, sorrow, sadness and adversity but never did she fail to smile
During Fay's long and painful illness many people said,
"Why does this have to happen to her? She never did anything wrong."
How many of us imagine that people will someday say of us that we "never did anything wrong."
Oh, sure, Fay was stubborn, hard headed and liked to do things in her own curious way, but she never intentionally harmed anyone and she always forgave those who harmed her. What a legacy that is.
Despite the adversity, the handicaps and the things she did not have, Violet Fay Mason – Raines - Yates had an optimism that some of us can only pray to have. She shivered through the storms but she was always the first one to see the rainbows.
That fragile little woman we all loved
• survived a nervous breakdown
• lived long enough to suffer the loss of her mother,
father and three siblings
• suffered through the brutal murder of her oldest son
• the loss of contact with her grandson Michael
• and the loss of many friends and relative
And, yet she never stopped to feel sorry for herself.
Some days it seemed impossible for Fay to put one foot in front of the other, but she did. For those many long, long weeks it was almost impossible for her to stand, but with the help of her friends, and her family, she kept trying.
There were times when she begged for God to "come and take me home," and there were times when she saw angels
After spending just hours with Fay, one aide said, "I can see that she is going to be a case, but I already love her so it's going to be fine."
Another said, "I just want to put her in my pocket and take her home."
Don't be sad. Remember her smile, her wink, the touch of her hand and know that she is in God's pocket - and she has gone home. And remember these words that she said so many times when talking about the people she had lost,
"I miss them so much, but I know where they are. They're
in a better place and I wouldn't call them back for
anything. You know I wouldn't."
Violet Fay Mason was born on April 19, 1936 to Everett Earnest and Effie Caroline Bell Mason. She was delivered by her father at home in rural Carroll County, Tennessee.
When she was two Fay contracted scarlet fever. She could not learn to read and write and yet Fay lived a life that stands as an example of courage, perseverance, kindness and love.
By the time she was 26 most of her sisters had already started families of her own and she wanted to do the same.
In 1964 she married Roy Elmer Raines of Iron Mountain. To that marriage four children were born: Roy Everett, Darlene Louise, David Lee and Marshall Wayne.
Ten years later, Fay's husband Roy died from Parkinson's disease. Her father, Rev. Mason, the rock of her world had already died and her mother was almost 70 years old. Fay's small family began to fall apart so she asked for help from her sisters.
In 1977 Fay married Charles Clifford Yates. That marriage lasted 31 ½ years. For all that time Fay and Clifford lived independently with help from her sisters and a community that, for the most part, embraced and supported them.
To many people they were known as the couple who mowed yards and collected scrap metals and anything else that anyone wanted to give them. For several years they led the lawnmower brigade through the streets of Bismarck, but in 2007 they moved up in status when they received a shiny, green golf cart. Most people agree that they began a trend that may turn Bismarck into the golf cart capitol of Missouri.
With Clifford at the wheel and Fay firmly snapped into her seat belt they rolled along waving, smiling and talking to their many, many friends. More often than not they shared their treasures and Fay's amazing wisdom with those folks whom she described as "less fortunate than us".
Her friendly, optimistic nature carried her through hardships, sorrow, sadness and adversity but never did she fail to smile
During Fay's long and painful illness many people said,
"Why does this have to happen to her? She never did anything wrong."
How many of us imagine that people will someday say of us that we "never did anything wrong."
Oh, sure, Fay was stubborn, hard headed and liked to do things in her own curious way, but she never intentionally harmed anyone and she always forgave those who harmed her. What a legacy that is.
Despite the adversity, the handicaps and the things she did not have, Violet Fay Mason – Raines - Yates had an optimism that some of us can only pray to have. She shivered through the storms but she was always the first one to see the rainbows.
That fragile little woman we all loved
• survived a nervous breakdown
• lived long enough to suffer the loss of her mother,
father and three siblings
• suffered through the brutal murder of her oldest son
• the loss of contact with her grandson Michael
• and the loss of many friends and relative
And, yet she never stopped to feel sorry for herself.
Some days it seemed impossible for Fay to put one foot in front of the other, but she did. For those many long, long weeks it was almost impossible for her to stand, but with the help of her friends, and her family, she kept trying.
There were times when she begged for God to "come and take me home," and there were times when she saw angels
After spending just hours with Fay, one aide said, "I can see that she is going to be a case, but I already love her so it's going to be fine."
Another said, "I just want to put her in my pocket and take her home."
Don't be sad. Remember her smile, her wink, the touch of her hand and know that she is in God's pocket - and she has gone home. And remember these words that she said so many times when talking about the people she had lost,
"I miss them so much, but I know where they are. They're
in a better place and I wouldn't call them back for
anything. You know I wouldn't."
Gravesite Details
Wife of Roy E. Raines; Charles Clifford Yates
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
