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Susan J. Yates, 71

May 13, 2024

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. —  On May 13th, 2024, with her family at her side, Susan Jane Yates died peacefully at the South Williamstown farmstead of her partner, Sherwood Guernsey, with whom she joyfully shared her final years.



Born on June 27th, 1952, Susan was the oldest of four sisters raised in Charlotte, Michigan. She spent her childhood corralling her sisters and working in her family’s hardware store. Whether sewing custom dresses or assisting in the Yates Hardware machine shop, her childhood responsibilities set her on a lifelong path as a consummate problem solver. After graduating as high school valedictorian, she enrolled at Michigan State University with a plan to become a medical technician. She soon realized she was making better grades than the pre-med students in her classes and switched majors to Human Medicine. She graduated with high honors and continued on to medical school at MSU, followed by an OB/GYN residency at the University of Iowa.



Susan arrived in Williamstown in 1981, joining Williamstown Medical Associates as their first woman physician. She took pride in every aspect of her work: caring for patients, performing surgery, delivering thousands of babies at the North Adams Regional Hospital (and later Berkshire Medical Center), and ensuring access to reproductive healthcare in the region. In 1992, she became president of the medical staff at NARH and in 1995 began her long tenure as a hospital trustee. Later in her career, Susan went on trips to Haiti to provide care and medical training in rural areas. She served on the board of both Haiti Plunge and the Louison House in North Adams.



When not working, Susan enjoyed being outdoors. She telemarked down Tuckerman Ravine, skied out West with her colleague Chuck O'Neill, ventured out on one waterski on Gun Lake, journeyed on long bike trips with her sister Judy, rode horses on the Great Divide, canoed and ran in the Josh Billings Run Aground, and exercised every morning with a group of women including her dear friend Ruth Harrison. Wherever she lived, she kept up a robust garden with squash, flowers, and, of course, rhubarb for her famously delicious pies.



She was active in the First Congregational Church, singing in the choir and serving in several leadership roles. She was a founding member and President of the Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund, Inc., a non-profit whose goal is to raise funds to preserve the historic Church building and Meetinghouse.



She will be remembered for her unflagging positivity, work ethic, caring, and generosity. She was a doer who never stopped doing good for her beloved community.



She leaves behind her sisters Judy and Kathryn, her three children, Chris, David, and Libbie, daughters-in-law Gina and Molly, grandsons Marcelo, Joaquin, and Amos, brother-in-law Tom Cizek, four nephews and a niece, along with many others who were family to her, including Andrew Liang, Cynthia, Pieter, Brian, and Lucia Mulder, and their children, and Sherwood Guernsey and his children, Margo, Kate, and Matt, and their children.



She was predeceased by her sister Cynthia, husband Martien Mulder, a son, Jesse, and a grandson, Tobi.



Services will be held at the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, at 10:30am on June 15th with a reception to follow at 402 Hancock Road, Williamstown. The family suggests contributions be made to Louison House, the Berkshire Immigrant Center, or the Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund.




Recollections & Sympathy For the Family
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I am so sorry for your family's loss. She was a great OBGYN and a wonderful woman.
from: Susan Knappon: 06-20-2024

Dr.Yates was my doctor for 22 years. She delivered my son, and was always very professional and took care of me whenever I had questions or concerns. I am shocked to read this news. I am sorry for the lose of a great, caring and loving doctor. My condolences to the family.
from: Melanieon: 06-18-2024

Dr. Yates was my physician for many years and was one of the kindest, most compassionate women I have known. I always looked forward to catching up with her about hiking, skiing, biking and other adventurous outdoor activities. She was so supportive and understanding when I lost my brother unexpectedly in 2009. May she rest in peace and my sincere condolences to your family.
from: Lori Murphyon: 05-27-2024

Chris, David, and Libbie—so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. We were colleagues for many years, and shared a lot of experiences. She was an excellent physician and a kind, caring person. She loved all of you and was so proud of your accomplishments. I know how much she will be missed.
from: Bonnie Herron: 05-23-2024

My heart is broken. I was so lucky to know Dr. Yates for 30 years. She was kind, loving, understanding, and empathetic. She will be missed and always in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you, Dr. Yates, for all you did for me to have my miracle baby.
from: Kristin M. Gilmanon: 05-23-2024

I'm another woman who was a patient of Dr. Yates. She was wonderful. My condolences to her family. May her memory be a blessing.
from: Pattion: 05-22-2024

An Amazing Person! An Amazing Doctor! Such A Loss!
from: Carmen Kaczowski on: 05-22-2024

I too was blessed to be a patient of Dr. Yates. After she retired, I would see her occasionally in my yarn shop picking out her next knitting project. She was so down to earth. My condolences to all her loved ones. May she rest in peace.
from: Bethon: 05-21-2024

Susan Yates guided me through my third pregnancy in 1982. She was a compassionate excellent Doctor. This news is such a big loss for the Northern Berkshire community.
from: Susan Cabaniolon: 05-21-2024

Dr. Yates was the best doctor ever! She will be missed by all who knew her.
from: Mary H.on: 05-21-2024

Susan was the best!

She was my doctor and each time I went to see her it was like visiting with an old friend. Always a smile on her face, compassion in her heart, and the best care you could ask for.

My condolences to her family and all who loved her. May the love she shared help fill the hole she left in their hearts.

Thank you Susan for all you gave to us! Rest in Peace.
from: Sharon Mahoneyon: 05-21-2024

Dr.Yates is going to be missed dearly. May she rest easy. She did an amazing job being an OBGYN doctor. She delivered one of my daughters. It’s her time to rest now she did everything for everyone else. My condolences to her family and friends. ??Rest Easy Dr Yates. ???
from: Shawna on: 05-21-2024

I credit Dr. Yates with saving my life as she found my cancer and advocated for and with me for several years. She was very special, and I was so lucky to have her as my Dr. She truly cared about her patients...even once calling me from an airport on a layover to check on me. I was one of her last patients on her day of retirement...she brought me into her office to talk and it was filled with so many flowers, gifts, well wishes...a testament to how beloved she was by her patients. A decent, caring, kind woman and physician - one in a million. Rest in peace and may her memory be a blessing.
from: Jenny Greenfeldon: 05-21-2024

Dr. Yates has been an important part of your comunity for a long time. She will be missed.
from: Valerie S.on: 05-21-2024

Blessings and condolences to Sherwood and all the family . She was a wonderful person and Doctor who delivered our youngest son in a delicate situation. Thank you forever Susan. She certainly will be missed. Heaven has welcomed her.
from: David and Geeta Lipinski on: 05-21-2024

Dr. Yates was not just an amazing, compassionate doctor, but a wonderful human being! So very sad to hear of her passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.
from: Missy Parisienon: 05-21-2024

So sorry to hear of her passing. Susan Yates was the best of the best and my doctor for so many years. God must have needed her help in heaven. May she rest in peace and know she was loved by so many...Many thoughts and prayers to her entire family.
from: Carol Filiaulton: 05-21-2024

Great person. My sympathies to her family and close friends.
from: Judy Licht on: 05-21-2024

Dr. Yates was a pleasure to work with and around. I can't thank her enough for what she did for my daughter in a difficult delivery. Rest in peace and fly high
from: Beth Collier Braman on: 05-21-2024

Condolences to her family and friends. She was not only an amazing doctor, but also a remarkable person.
from: Jana Boyeron: 05-20-2024

Dr. Yates saved my life during my first childbirth. She was very special to me and I never realized how much I meant to her until my last appointment when she told me that she was retiring and pushed it a day to have me be one of her last patients and to tell me of her retirement herself. We all lost such an amazing soul and we were all so blessed to know her. I am so sorry for your loss.
from: Jessica Lesureon: 05-20-2024

Deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Dr. Yates. I had the pleasure of being her patient but also worked with her at the hospital She left behind a beautiful legacy.

Lisa Lincoln
from: on: 05-20-2024

My Deepest Condolences to the family. She Delivered all 3 of my Children in the 80's. The best Doctor.
from: Debby Mekdecion: 05-20-2024

Omg. Im so saddened. She was my drvforv30 years!! She soon became a friend on the stree
ts wherever i saw her. She is deeply missed. My prayers to all throughoutvthese days ahead
from: Nancy walkeron: 05-20-2024

My Condolences to her family. She delivered my daughter and was my OBGYN for years.
She will be missed.
from: Heather Masonon: 05-20-2024

Dr. Yates was an awesome doctor. she was an awesome doctor. She cared about her patients. She will be missed, but not forgotten sending my condolences to the family and friends
from: Darlene Farmeron: 05-20-2024

Heartbroken, my doctor for decades, I was lucky to have her, she was the best and will be sorely missed.
from: Becky Cellanaon: 05-20-2024

I'm so sorry for your loss. I loved Dr. Yates had her form 1983 till she retired. I have not yet found anyone anywhere who can compare to Dr. Yates.
from: Barbara Zepkaon: 05-20-2024

Was blessed to have her as my incredible Doctor for years! She will be missed. My condolences to the family.
from: Wanda Haleyon: 05-20-2024

She was a great doctor and great person
from: Sandy blakeson: 05-20-2024

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