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BRIGHAM CITY — It would be impossible to explain what Joseph Lynn Yeates meant to Box Elder County.
"I don't even think you can put something like that into words for the plain fact that you just lost an institution. He's been here for 40 years,” said Box Elder County Commissioner Stan Summers.
Yeates has been sheriff since 2007. He was also the emergency manager, search and rescue coordinator and worked with the ambulance, scuba and mounted horse posse teams, to name just a few of his titles.
However, Yeates' best titles included husband, father and friend.
"I don't think you've ever seen so many grown men not being able to channel their feelings,” Summers said.
Yeates died from a heart attack this past Tuesday morning. It happened just one day after he was sworn into office for a third term as county sheriff, and two months after his wife, Linda, died.
"I really believe in my heart that Lynn died of a broken heart,” Summers said.
Yeates loved Box Elder County, especially the western part of it.
"It’s a country you think there is nothing in it, and there's no reason to be in it, and you come out of there with 30 things that are just fascinating that you didn't know existed,” said Box Elder County Chief Deputy Kevin Potter, who is now acting sheriff.
Yeates also loved the people who lived out in the extreme rural areas of the county. He made sure a deputy was assigned there every weekend just to build relationships.
"There are a few small towns out there, and he wanted to make sure those people saw the sheriff's office as much as those on the Wasatch Front did and knew it was important,” Potter said.
Related:
Box Elder County Sheriff Lynn Yeates knew county better than most
Lynn Yeates loved visiting the western parts of Box Elder County, and he knew about things you won't find in any tourism brochures. Those who remember him say his trips out west were legendary.Yeates was buried next to his wife in the Millville Cemetery, where dispatchers called for him on the radio one last time.
One of the most touching parts of Saturday's memorial was when people grabbed cans of Mountain Dew, opened them and toasted Yeates' life.
"If you didn't know Lynn, he had a Mountain Dew with him all the time,” Potter said with a laugh. “There are also a hundred more donated to where we’re going to have dinner tonight.”
Potter, who was very close to Yeates, also understands whoever the next sheriff is, is going to have a hard time replacing Yeates … not because they will do a bad job, but because of the man Yeates was.
“Oh, no, you can’t; you can’t replace him. He was one of a kind,” Potter said.
Yes, there will still be plenty of tears when many people think about Yeates. However, there is also a feeling of relief and peace because many believe Yeates is now on his best adventure yet; Mountain Dew in one hand, his wife's hand in the other.
"What an amazing end to an amazing life,” Summers said.
Contributing: Mike DeBernardo
