Our beloved Harold Malcolm Yates passed away peacefully on June 28th at his home in Raleigh, NC.  His battle with cancer was faced with his signature good humor, wit, and strength of character.

Harold was born in Cambridge, Ohio, on May 30, 1957.  He was preceded in death by his parents Harold Alfred Yates and Leah "Arlene" Hyde, beloved sister Katherine Yates Lee and stepfather Wyatt "Howard" Cunningham.  He is loved and missed by his wife Michele Davis Yates, loving daughters Jessica Thompson, Elizabeth Eustis and Meagan Keziah, brother Robert Yates, and extended family.  He was the proud grandfather to Grant Barton, Noah and Silas Thompson, and Cora and Eric Eustis.

His childhood began in Guernsey County, Ohio, followed by a few years in Virginia, before the family settled in Fuquay-Varina, NC, where Harold graduated from Fuquay-Varina High School (Class of '75).  Being a tall man, he was frequently asked if he played basketball in high school.  His answer was, "It was a small school, so we played all the major sports."

He was a self taught man, avid reader, history lover and nature Henthusiast. A self-starter, Harold enjoyed success as a business owner in the electronics/video industry and later in construction, then worked at NCSU in his semi-retirement years.  His many passions included classic and hard to find movie collections, vintage toys, and antique farm equipment but most importantly a passion for giving back, which he accomplished for many years through supporting his church's food pantry, clothes closet and special needs carnival efforts. Harold never met a stranger and strived to greet and uplift everyone he met on a daily basis.  He often shared his faith and love of Jesus Christ, which shaped his interactions and especially his role as a husband and father.

Harold's needs were secondary to the needs of those around him.  He endured chronic pain for many years, yet demonstrated that being in pain does not prevent you from Christian service.  He had a good, giving, loving heart that touched many lives and that will live on in those he loved.