Clayton Lane Yates, 61, of Atkins, passed away peacefully at 1:30 AM, Sunday, October 22, 2017. He was born May 26, 1956, in South Carolina, son of Leland M., Jr. and Betty Jean Tish Yates. He also lived in Iowa and Colorado, and joined the Navy following his uncle’s footsteps where he received a medical discharge before moving to Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Walter Howland and Mary Elizabeth Tish, Elma Cozby from Iowa, and Leland M. Sr. and Leola Yates; mother, Betty; Uncle Walt (Bill) Tish and Aunt Lucille Tish; and cousin, Bill Tish. He attended the University of Arkansas, Arkansas Tech University, and worked at several different occupations before he settled on a vocation that was his avocation – a barber. He studied in Ft. Smith to attain his barber’s license and took pride in his work. He worked in Atkins with J.L. Austin and Joey Hanna, and was proud when he bought Main Barber. Many of his customers knew him as Shakey, and his specialty was the ‘high and tight.’ He was also a skilled carpenter building any piece of furniture he was asked to – and his sisters asked a lot! He was a devoted brother and son. He visited his sisters weekly and took much joy in watching his nieces and nephews and then great-nieces and great-nephews grow and being a part of their lives. His sister LeAnn babysat, and he loved visiting with those children as well. He loved children, especially when they were well disciplined. His face would light up anytime they called him “Uncle Clayton” because he considered them to be his family too. One Christmas he showed up with handmade jewelry boxes for the girls and valet boxes for the boys. His generosity was without measure as was his love of western and Disney movies. Deer hunting was another of his passions, although he usually ‘missed the big one.’ The outdoors, sports, and arguing about those sports (always choose his team and you’d be fine, otherwise the war was on) brought him joy. He has every Arkansas Razorback game recorded, and the Denver Broncos are the greatest no matter what. Left to cherish his memory are his father, Lee Yates and wife Nancy of Bella Vista; sisters and their husbands, LeAnn and husband Jerry Ennis of Atkins, and Terri and husband Ray Williamson of Russellville; brothers and sister-in-law, Trace Yates, PhD. and wife Holly of Mobile, Alabama, and Kyle Yates of Texas; nephews and nieces, Eric Cocanougher, Brett Cocanougher, Alyssa and Ridge Benjamin, Jacque Cocanougher, Alicia and Colton Redding, Emily Ennis, Adrienne and Levi Broadhead, Haily and Kaleb Tunnell, Joely Ennis; great-nephews and nieces, Jace Duvall, Pierce Benjamin, Garrett Redding, Emma Cocanougher, Grayson Cocanougher, and Amelia Cocanougher; and cousins, Linda Tish, and Susan and husband Larry Wyatt of Grinnell, Iowa. Funeral services are 10:00 AM, Wednesday, October 25, at Lemley Chapel with Rev. Joey Hanna, Rev. Jeff Howell, and Chaplain MOAA Harold Davis officiating. Burial is private at a later date. Visitation is from 6:00-8:00 PM, Tuesday, at Lemley Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his honor may be made to Arkansas Hospice or Arkansas Children’s hospital due to his love of children. The family would also like to extend a special thanks to the nurses and staff of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville. Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com.