Re: Yates in Michigan
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In reply to:
Yates in Michigan
1/26/02
Do you have a copy of your grandfather's death certificate?It should show the names and birth locations of his parents.Then look for an obituary, often survivors are listed.Find out what funeral home handled the services for him, see if they have any information on his family in their records.
Talk to all family members you can, glean what they know about your grandfather.Be prepared not all family stories will match exactly, as time does play tricks on our memories.Just take down everything, and later, with some research you will be able to learn which have the facts, and which have the "spin".
You didn't give any dates on your grandfather, and there are 62 Ernest Yates on the SSDI (Soc Sec Dth Idx), but there is one that looks like a "possible" match.
Ernest J. Yates, b 2 Aug 1928; d 2 Feb 1994; last residence Saginaw, Saginaw Co, MI; SS card issued in MI.
If that is him, he didn't die all that long ago, I would ask what family members attended his funeral.Is your grandmother still alive?If so, does she still have the book people signed when they attended your grandfather's serices?If she's not alive, did anyone in the family get the things like that from his service?Did she receive letters from family members who couldn't attend, but sent their condolences?Start jogging the memory cells of your family, some may know helpful little tidbits.