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December 7, 2010

Dennis T. Yates, Artist, 1947-2010 UCM Graduate, Mules Football Player from Raytown, Missouri

Dennis T. Yates, Artist
Dennis Yates, photo from the Mike Bodenhamer Collection


Dennis Tyrone Yates, 63, of Preston, MO died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, at his home.
Coach Howard Mahanes, University of Central Missouri. Photo of the Original Oil from the Mike Bodenhamer Collection
Photo from the Mike Bodenhamer Collections
He was a founder of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society.
Dennis T. Yates, Artist
Ozark Cabin, owned by Janie R. Uhler
 Dennis T. Yates, Artist
Ozark Cabin, owned by Janie R. Uhler

 Dennis T. Yates, Artist
Ozark Cabin, owned by Janie R. Uhler
Dennis T. Yates, Artist
Ozark Cabin, owned by Janie R. Uhler

 Dennis T. Yates, Artist, Missouri



He was born April 6, 1947, at Independence, the son of Curtis and Mary Ellen McCubbin Yates. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a professional artist.


He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ellen Yates; his brother, Kevin Yates; and his grandson, Brady Yates.

Survivors include his father and stepmother, Curtis and Marguerite Yates of Preston; two sons, Daniel Yates of Knob Noster and Gabriel Yates of Preston; two daughters, Tiersa DaMitz of Owatonna, Minn., and Shelley Laguna of Boulder, Colo.; two foster sons, Mike Robertson of Springfield and Milo Robertson of Jacksonville, N.C.; one foster daughter, Polly Sanders of Springfield; three brothers, Waybern Yates of Kansas City, Layton Yates of Independence and Shannon Yates of Kansas City; and 14 grandchildren.

Services were Saturday, Dec. 4, at Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Chapel, Wheatland, with the Rev. Chuck Phillips officiating. Burial was in Little Niangua Cemetery, Preston.

2008 UCM Homecoming Exhibit Dennis Yates

Homecoming Exhibit Features Works of Alumnus and Artist Dennis Yates WARRENSBURG, MO (Oct. 17, 2008) – University of Central Missouri alumnus and artist Dennis T. Yates will return to his alma mater during UCM’s 2008 Homecoming Weekend to host an exhibit of his works. He will be available to renew acquaintances and discuss his work in Elliott Union 219 from 10 a.m.-8p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. Yates also will be accepting commissions and offering original and limited edition pieces for sale during the Homecoming exhibit, donating a portion of the proceeds to the UCM Foundation. As a football player for Raytown High School, Yates was offered a scholarship to play football at Northern Arizona University. In the summer of 1968, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a paratrooper, photographer and journalist for the 82nd Airborne Division.
Dennis "Denny" Y ates
Upon his discharge he enrolled at UCM, where he played football for Coach Howard Mahanes as a middle linebacker on the history-making UCM Mules team that topped off a successful season with a trip to the Pecan Bowl in Arlington, Texas. Yates completed his degree in art and physical education at UCM and went on to teach art and coach football at Raytown Junior High School. Before long, however, he made the decision to turn to his passion for art. In 1973 he returned to his family's roots in the Ozarks to pursue a lifelong career as an accomplished artist. “It has been quite some time since my last major exhibit at UCM, so I am looking forward to being back and sharing my artwork with alumni, students, faculty and friends,” Yates said.

Homecoming Exhibit Features Works of Alumnus and Artist Dennis Yates WARRENSBURG, MO (Oct. 17, 2008) – University of Central Missouri alumnus and artist Dennis T. Yates will return to his alma mater during UCM’s 2008 Homecoming Weekend to host an exhibit of his works. He will be available to renew acquaintances and discuss his work in Elliott Union 219 from 10 a.m.-8p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. Yates also will be accepting commissions and offering original and limited edition pieces for sale during the Homecoming exhibit, donating a portion of the proceeds to the UCM Foundation. As a football player for Raytown High School, Yates was offered a scholarship to play football at Northern Arizona University. In the summer of 1968, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a paratrooper, photographer and journalist for the 82nd Airborne Division. Upon his discharge he enrolled at UCM, where he played football for Coach Howard Mahanes as a middle linebacker on the history-making UCM Mules team that topped off a successful season with a trip to the Pecan Bowl in Arlington, Texas. Yates completed his degree in art and physical education at UCM and went on to teach art and coach football at Raytown Junior High School. Before long, however, he made the decision to turn to his passion for art. In 1973 he returned to his family's roots in the Ozarks to pursue a lifelong career as an accomplished artist. “It has been quite some time since my last major exhibit at UCM, so I am looking forward to being back and sharing my artwork with alumni, students, faculty and friends,” Yates said. Camden County Museum of Missouri
DENNIS YATES, ARTIST (1947-2010) Friend of the Museum
Capturing the moment on canvas preserves history, Dennis T. Yates did just that. The nationally and internationally known artist is best known for painting the “delicate play of light.” Dennis said that he “responds to the scene” and that “listening is the best controller.” “I rehearse the whole painting ahead of time.” He stated, “Rendering life, with the wonder of light, fills my heart. This concept conveys an honest, sincere, and accurate suggestion of the reality of life in the current moment.”
In 1979, Dennis Yates sketched four historic local scenes for the Camden County Bank to use as customer gifts. They included: Ha Ha Tonka castle during a snow, the post office surrounded with snow, the J.R. Wells boat anchored in Tuscumbia, and a street scene in (old) Linn Creek. The street scene in Old Linn Creek depicts the prosperous river town that was an important port city for commerce and travel on the Osage River. During the months of construction for the Bagnell Dam, Linn Creek residents moved their families and businesses to the new town of Linn Creek, Camdenton and to Lebanon. They planned new homes, moved their livestock and rebuilt their lives. This (old) Linn Creek scene shows a busy (old) Route 54. Yates related in 1979 that “the pencil is a simple but, exciting way of capturing form. That, coupled with fascinating subject matter, made the whole process very enjoyable.” Sitting in the meeting room at the Camden County Bank in Camdenton, Dennis Yates autographed all nine hundred and ninety penciled-sketched copies. The complete set is on exhibit at the Camden County Museum. There are a few remainings sets for sale through the museum for a donation of $500.00 for a set of four.



1964 Kansas City Missouri Football Stars. Dennis Yates First Team Center 


U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo. pays a visit to The Springs Art Gallery in El Dorado Springs Tuesday to honor veterans and view an exhibit of their artwork. The art will be on public display in the gallery for the next two months. Left to right: Springs Art Gallery owner Ruth Cannady; Dennis Yates, artist of the B-2 bomber on the upper right; Rep. Ike Skelton and Shawn Abell, founder of Second Chance Barnyard and the Battle Buddies program. --Rusty Murry/Daily Mail 2009

Dennis Yates Contact Info

Shelley Yates-Laguna (11/04/2013) 

Dennis Yates was my Daddy. We all miss him terribly! He had such an amazing gift and talent! Also, he was so dynamic and full of life. I love hearing the stories of how his art has touched peoples lives and the beauty lives on. Please anyone contact me for questions on his artwork or just to share anything about him. I would welcome that with open arms... Just like my Daddy would, the sweetest most loving father a little girl could want.

ed: My mother, Janie Uhler, was a huge fan of Denny's and purchased several of his paintings. He was always a welcome site in Warrensburg for his warmth and passion for art and for people.  He is missed greatly.

1 comment:

Leif Thompson said...

I was neighbors with the Yates family as a small child. My first friends in Missouri were the Yates. You couldn't find more wonderful people. I remember one summer my father was away working. We had hay in the field that we would surely lose to big storm coming. Dennis and his cousin showed up without being asked and hauled all the hay to the barn. They worked hours and hours to get it put away before the storm. One of Dennis' paintings, "The last Bale" is based on a picture Dennis took of my brother that day. When we tried to pay him and thank him for what he had done, he would not take a penny. Dennis simply said..."that's what neighbors are for". He was a wonderful man and a great artist.

Leif Thompson