1942 ~ 2025
April 11, 1942 – December 11, 2025
Jane Beecher Yeates (born Margaret Jane Beecher), age 83, left us peacefully at the home of her son Ken, surrounded by her family and many friends, on the evening of December 11, 2025 after a short battle with leukemia. She was born on April 11, 1942 to Margaret Smith Beecher and Harold Kline Beecher Jr. in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jane graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s degree and continued on to receive her Master’s degree in Business Education. She taught typing and shorthand at the University of Utah, and went on to teach Business Communication and computer programs and skills for business at the LDS Business College (now Ensign College), and also at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). Her students loved her and she kept them laughing.
In college she was active in Angel Flight and in Chi Omega fraternity, Xi Alpha chapter in Salt Lake City. And later, as an alumna, she was Chi Omega Corporation president and redecorated the Chi Omega house.
In 1967 Jane married Kenneth W. Yeates III and raised four wonderful children: Elisa (Scott Morrill); Ken B. (Chiara); Kathryn (Kendall Dumas); and Margaret (Ryan Uzelac). Jane loved having all her children and grandchildren around her all the time and would host large family gatherings especially on Christmas and the fourth of July.
Always active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she served in the Primary, Young Women, Relief Society, and as the chorister for the ward for many years. Spanning over sixty-five years, she lived in four different homes all in the Parley’s First Ward area. She loved the neighborhood and all the people.
Jane was also active in Girl Scouts and loved serving on the Board with the wonderful lifelong friends she made. Janie loved trees. She loved seeing the beautiful autumn leaves in the mountains in the fall. She loved going up to the many canyons in the summer for a cookout or picnic or a camping trip or vacation with her family. She also loved the ocean and the many vacations spent in Laguna Beach with her parents and her sister, Allyson (Larry S. Smith), when they were growing up, and later with her own children.
Jane cherished time spent with her children, grandchildren, sister, and niece Jenny and family. She also loved her in-laws, all her wonderful cousins, and her many treasured friends. She was always fun and full of love and laughter.
Janie had a joyful, charming personality, and her grand exuberance drew people to her and led to many deep and personal friendships. Our family is grateful for the many dear friends and loved ones who were a part of her life.
We also want to thank the wonderful staff at LDS Hospital’s East 8 Bone Marrow Transplant Unit with extra love to CNA Emma. Jane loved all of you.
She is survived by her four wonderful children, her sister, and her fourteen grandchildren–Elisabeth (Alex), Anna, Spencer, Rebecca, Ken M., Nathan, James, Walter, Kaylie, Connor, Lila, Izzy, Quin, and William–who all love her and will miss her greatly.
A visitation will be held on Monday, December 22 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Larkin Mortuary
Downtown, 260 E. South Temple in Salt Lake City Utah 84111, and again on Tuesday morning at 11:00 am at the chapel prior to the service.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 23 at 12:00pm at the Parley’s First Ward, 2350 S. 2100 East, Salt Lake City Utah 84109. Following the service, dedication and interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Those wishing to view the service via zoom, please click the “watch services” button above.
To Janie’s family, my sincere sympathy for your and my loss. Janie and I grew up together as cousins. We were always very close, and had just spoken on her birthday, which we each did on the others BD.
She’s with a lot of family.
My deepest condolences to the Yeates family for their loss. I had the pleasure of meeting Jane and being welcomed into her family and home. She was always so warm and funny, and I truly enjoyed spending time with her—especially visiting her beautiful home in what I fondly called “gingerbread house land.” Jane will be deeply missed.
Our prayers and love are with your family during this difficult time.
To your family, Jane, I know their loss is tremendous but in my heart I feel that you are not gone. You have only moved on and are still alive in their hearts. My love goes to your family who will miss you forever. Your cousin Carol
Dear Allyson, and Jane's family,
Barbara and I send our deep sympathy at this time of your loss and grief. You are in our hearts. We too miss my remarkable cousin, her competence and contributions, and her joyful, generous, uplifting, and inspiring spirit and legacy. We relish our memories of times together. May you also soon be able to focus on your beautiful memories of lady Jane.
We will so miss Janie. Her love, joy, caring, generosity and enthusiasm knew no bounds. We enjoyed every minute we got to share with her. From sitting and watching TV to making jars and jars of apricot jam. She is firmly embedded in our hearts. We will always love her.