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Yorke, the striker Graham Taylor would not sign a second time for Aston Villa, returned to torment his old club with two second-half goals.
The finishing of Yorke and Matt Jansen, who also scored twice, was too lethal for Villa and left a lot of question marks against the Birmingham club.
Aston Villa went into the game following back-to-back home wins but they were unable to capitalise upon their recent improved form as Blackburn were often the more dangerous.
Jansen, who has missed most of the season following a car accident during the summer, was a live-wire throughout and following an early threat opened the scoring after 16 minutes.
A long clearance from Brad Friedel was missed by Olof Mellberg and J Lloyd Samuel could only got a glancing header to set the ball up for Jansen to hammer his shot past Stefan Postma.
To their credit Villa were not put out of their stride although they were often too elaborate in their build-ups.
Striker Dion Dublin once again wasted a couple of clear-cut chances from close range.
The industry of Gareth Barry, however, kept Villa in contention. The England Under-21 captain, who is growing in stature with every game, was Villa's driving force.
He gave Lucas Neill a harrowing time and five minutes before half time he cut in from the left and hammered a low left-footed shot past Friedel.
James McEveley was on the line and the ball rebounded off the defender, Juan Pablo Angel and cannoned into the net.
With Jansen playing so well Blackburn hardly missed the absent Andy Cole, while Yorke had a quiet time against his old club - until the start of the second half.
Blackburn won a corner on the right and David Dunn's cross to the far post was headed goalwards by Yorke only for Postma to block the effort.
But the persistent Yorke lashed a cross-shot into the net to regain the lead for Blackburn.
A second corner from Dunn was converted by Jansen in the 59th minute with a smart header.
Villa attempted to get back into the game but the issue was put beyond their reach when Yorke moved onto a 71st minute pass from Dunn to glide his shot past Postma.