On Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, James Yates passed away in Lewiston at the age of 83. Jim was born Dec. 29, 1935, in Grangeville, to Earl and Hazel Yates. He was a former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces and was stationed in Alaska. He married Shirley Puryear in 1953. They had three children. They later divorced. Jim had a tire shop in Lewiston for a short time. He then became a general contractor. He loved taking his boat up the Snake River. He started with a small wooden boat. He later took groups in a 21-foot Duckworth he named Thunder. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Yates and Hazel Raymond; daughter Darla Yates; sister Joyce Boydston; and grandson Tanner Munden. He is survived by daughter Debbie Munden, son David Yates (Sabrina), sister June Cahalan, grandsons Luke and Jarod Yates, and great-grandchildren Juliet Soderberg and Tyler and Ethan Munden.