James Yeager

Funeral Services will be held for James Walter Yeager, 66, at 2 p.m. Thursday, at Freedom United Methodist Church.

He died Oct. 23, 2015.

He was born on April 24, 1949 in Blackwell to Bessie Louise (Cathey) and James J. “Jim” Yeager. He attended elementary school in Tonkawa, OK and then the family moved to Alva, OK. He graduated from Alva High School in 1967.

After graduation he went on harvest and in March of 1968 he joined the United States Air Force and served for over 20 years.  While stationed at Chanute AFB, he met Deanne Ruth Elliott. They married in May of 1969 in Springfield, IL.  To their marriage two children were born, Ruthann Alicia and James Michael.

Yeager served in Vietnam and was stationed in Korea, Texas, Alaska, Florida, and Louisiana during his 20 years of service.

He met his second wife, Linda F. Olden, in Alexandria, LA and was married February 14, 1978.

He accepted Christ into his life and was baptized in 1979.

He retired from the Air Force in 1988, and started working for the United States Postal Service in Alexandria, LA.

For the past three years he has resided at the Veterans center in Clinton.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Carolyn Louise; and a brother-in-law, Jimmie Woodard.

He is survived by his wife Linda; his daughter Alicia and son Michael, both of Springfield, Illinois; a sister, Sherrie Woodard of Freedom; a brother-in-law and family of Louisiana; nephew and nieces Kurtis, Bretta and Marlo; great nephew and nieces Jimmie, Lacy, and  Kassidy; and a number of   relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Clinton VA Member Benefit Fund through Wharton Funeral Chapel.

Services will be officiated by Rev. Mark Kinkel. Interment will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery under the direction of Wharton Funeral Chapel.