Yabes was born in Lodi, California, and at a young age moved with his family to Oakridge, Oregon, where he received his primary and secondary education.

Secretary of the Army, Stanley Resor, presented Yabes' wife and children with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held at the Pentagon in October 1968.

Citation:[2] First Sergeant Maximo Yabes was buried with full military honors at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

Dozens of individuals, businesses and organizations in Oakridge, Oregon, donated time, money, labor and supplies to build a memorial to honor Yabes.

They hired sculptor Tim Outman to create the memorial which features a fountain, a flagpole and a bronze bust with the likeness of Yabes set on a granite pedestal.