Ernest Yates

Ernest J. "Ernie Bud" Yates,72, of Rockford, died Saturday, April 4, after a long, courageous battle with cancer, at Liberty Village in Peru. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Ottawa Funeral Home with theRev. Lourduraj Ignatius officiating.Burial will be in Ottawa Ave. Cemetery.Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. He was born July 10, 1936, in Ottawa, to Ernest and Dorothy (Davis) Yates. He married Wanda Vincent in June 1957 in Rockford. Ernie graduated from Rockford Business School and started Warehouse Distributors and in 1973, opened Forest Nursery, which he owned and operated until his death. He was a member of theMoose Lodge, was a volunteer for Rockford Fire Department and Garden Club of America. He served in theArmy Reserves. Survivors include his mother, Dorothy (Yates) Cusick of Ottawa; one daughter, Lisa (Jim) O'Connor of Carmel, Ind.; grandchildren, Kelly, Sean and Katie O'Connor; one sister, Nancy Yates Hill of Utica; a nephew, Troy (Tammy) Hill; his great-niece, Bonnie Neely; great-great-nephew, Nicky; his former wife, Wanda Yates of Rockford. He was preceded in death by his father and brother-in-law, Bert Hill. Pallbearers: Melvin Beard, Joe Bayer, Melvin Casey, Barry Smith, Chuck Geiger and Jim O'Connor. Memorials: American Cancer Society.