Rev. James R. Yater, 61, of Monticello died Friday, January 23, 2004, at White County Memorial Hospital.

He was born at Kokomo on December 5, 1942 to Homer and Helen Pettay Yater.

He married Geneva Kay on August 15, 1965 in Indianapolis. She survives.

He graduated from Northwestern High School in 1961. He graduated from the University of Indianapolis in 1965. He then finished his schooling at United Theological Seminary in 1970.

He was a pastoriale in West Falkton, Oh., as a student and served an internship in Anaheim, Calif.

The first church in which he served was the Yeoman United Methodist Church. He was an assistant pastor in Bluffton, the Reynolds United Methodist Church and Shiloh United Methodist Church of Christ. He had served as interim pastor at the Monon United Methodist Church and most recently served at the Francesville United Methodist Church and the Medaryville United Methodist Church.

He worked at Monticello Healthcare Center as a maintenance supervisor for eight years.

Other survivors include daughters Karen (Keith) Walker of Austin, Texas and Katherine (John) Henke of Monticello; sister Bonnie (Keith) Slaughter of Kokomo; four grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews.

Services were Tuesday at the Monticello United Methodist Church with Rev. Wesley Brookshire, District Superintendent Michelle Cobb and Rev. Mark Slaughter officiating. Fisher-Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home was in charge of the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Medaryville United Methodist Church, Francesville United Methodist Church, the White County Memorial Hospital Oncology Dept., or the American Cancer Society.