James Lee Yates 75 a retired Master Sergeant of the U.S. Army and resident of Ponce Inlet passed away January 7 2010. He was born on December 15 1934 in Purdon TX however spent most of his life in the Military in places such as Vietnam Korea Germany and France. He received many metals such as the Bronze Star. While in the service in France he met his wife Liliane a translator for the Army and spent 53 wonderful years together. In 1991 they relocated to Ponce Inlet to be close to their new grandson Koby. During that time Jim spent several years as a computer hardware purchasing agent and even drove the airport shuttle bus where he could often be found chatting away with the passengers and giving advise to college students on Spring Break. In his spare time he enjoyed golf riding his bike gardening playing dominoes and cards watching the Dallas Cowboy's football team and bowling. He rarely missed his daily "power walks" to and from the lighthouse at the Inlet. Once Jim was committed to something he did it with excellence; from visiting sick members of his church the South Baptist Church of Daytona or taking care of his family. He will best be remembered for teaching people to be the best they could be and for the deep love he had for his family. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Liliane; son and daughter-in-law David and Cathy Yates and their son Phillip of Burtonsville MD and his daughter and son-in-law Cathy and Tom Kobussen of Indianapolis IN and their son Koby of Holly Hill FL. He was predeceased in death by his son Michael and sister Maudie.