Elsie “Jean” Yeager, 97, Gas City, Indiana, passed away at 2 a.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2018. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard E. Yeager, and son, Larry L. Yeager.
Jean was born in Winchester, Indiana, on March 12, 1920, to Mabel Fry and Philip John Parks. She had one sister, Virginia, and both of them learned to sew from their mother. Jean once wrote that she had a needle in her hand at age four.
Jean met the love of her life, Richard Yeager, and they were married on December 31, 1939. He served in the Navy in WWII and, while he was in the service, they wrote over 700 letters to each other. After his service, he worked at Ball Brothers and Fisher Body in Marion. Dick and Jean were blessed with four sons, Richard of Evansville, Indiana, Phillip of Venice, Florida, Larry (deceased), and Roger of Rochester, New York. Dick and Jean were married for 55 years.
Jean was an excellent homemaker and a good cook. Determined to keep her mind challenged, she enjoyed working the daily crossword puzzle in the newspaper and also had a passion for needlepoint, cross stitch, crocheting, sewing, embroidery, and making quilts. She won honors for her cross stitch pictures which were displayed in several shows, as well as a trunk showing in Indianapolis. Jean also worked as a bookkeeper, church secretary, and Sunday School teacher. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Gas City.
Dick, Jean, Phillip, and Roger experienced the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado in Marion when their house, with them in it, was hit and lifted off the foundation, causing them to lose everything. Miraculously, they all survived with only injuries. They then rebuilt their home in Gas City. Jean lived her whole life in Muncie, Marion, and Gas City, Indiana.
Jean’s family included Richard and Paula (deceased), Phillip and Kathy, Larry (deceased) and Iris, and Roger and Rose Yeager. Jean had five grandchildren, Donna Logback, Michael Yeager, Sarah McKee, Elizabeth Yeager, and Jenny Yeager-Carl. She was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Logback, Logan Logback, Matthew McKee, Erin McKee, Lauren Yeager, Parker Yeager, and Edward Yeager-Carl. Jean’s family also included niece, Julia Keiter-Gaspar, and nephew, Dale Keiter.
Visitation is from 9:30-11 a.m. with Jean’s funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at Needham Storey Wampner Funeral Service, Storey Chapel, 400 E. Main St., Gas City, IN. Burial will follow at Grant Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your favorite charity.
Online condolences may be made at www.nswcares.com.