At 1030am Thursday morning Conroe Fire responded to a reported house fire at 1707 Yates Street. Units arrived to find a one-story brick home fully involved with a fire out of the roof. Reports of an occupant trapped and a search was begun. Firefighters discovered 89-year-old Wonderful Yates, deceased in a back room. Once the fire was out arson investigators and Conroe Police initiated an investigation. Family members gathered outside the home of the longtime resident of Conroe and wife of the late Billy Yates who spent close to 30 years teaching history in Conroe. The home was a total loss. Family said Ms. Yates was big in bible study and had a collection of Bibles. , her videotape and stuffed animal collection were also lost. The family was able to recover just a handful of the hundreds of photos she had. Conroe Arson investigators have not found a cause but they say it was an older home so it may take some time.
