Obituary for Watson Yeager
Watson Ray Yeager
The one thing Ray Yeager was most known for was his big smile. Ray Yeager had a smile that went from ear to ear. It could light up a room, brighten one’s day or put a smile on the face of a friend or a stranger on the street. Ray was a huge Bama fan from day one. He loved attending football games in Bryant Denny Stadium and later when unable to travel to see games in person, he loved watching Bama play any sport on TV,including softball, gymnastics, baseball and of course football.
Ray was a devoted Christian family man. He loved his family so much and took great care of his wife Dolores until she passed away in 2008. He was a great father to his two daughters Mary and Maria. He thought they hung the moon and that they were capable of anything. He was the best Grandpaw to four grandchildren: Rebecca, Mac, Emily and Aaron.
Ray was a late bloomer to the activity of running, but he loved it. He participated in many 5k and 10k races in the area and as far away as the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta. He was known to win his age division on several occasions in races in Hernando and Senatobia. He ran from his 50s into his 80s. He built up to running six miles a day, six days a week, even in Mississippi Summer heat. Although if you knew Ray well, you knew he thrived in well heated areas.
Watson Ray Yeager was born in Tuscaloosa, AL. He grew up in Monroeville and Clanton Alabama. He graduated from the University of Alabama, where he met his future wife, Dolores Martin, on a blind date. He was a member of Theta Xi fraternity. His name still appears on the Business School’s wall as a high performing student.
Ray’s career began and ended with Sears Roebuck & Co. He joined their management program after graduation from the University of Alabama. Ray transferred several times with Sears. His initial move and starting position was in Gadsden, Alabama. While there he married Dolores Martin. From there they moved with Sears to Dothan, Alabama (where Mary was born), Columbus, Georgia, Charlotte, NC (where Maria was born), and finally Memphis, Tennessee. Ray and his family lived in Memphis for several years before Ray and Dolores built a house and settled in Hernando, Mississippi.
He loved that home and the neighborhood. He had great neighbors, who took good care of him there. Of course he did his part to take good care of them too, earlier in life. He would have preferred to live there his whole life, but after rehabbing from his first broken hip he moved to Wesley Meadows in Hernando, MS. He made some wonderful friends there and they took good care of him.
Ray was a longtime member of Love Community Church. He also faithfully served with Gideon’s International.
Ray was such a very strong man. He beat cancer twice, suffered two broken hips and was diagnosed with Dementia a few years ago. Ray came back with flying colors from the first broken hip, however was never able to recover from the second one. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at the Senatobia Healthcare facility on Monday, September 27.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Gideon’s International, Love Community Baptist Church, Hernando, MS or to a charity of your choice.
The family will be receiving friends Saturday, October 2, at 12 pm with a service to follow at 2 pm all at Hernando Funeral Home. Interment will be following at Hernando Memorial Park.
hernandofuneralhome.com
662-429-5260
The one thing Ray Yeager was most known for was his big smile. Ray Yeager had a smile that went from ear to ear. It could light up a room, brighten one’s day or put a smile on the face of a friend or a stranger on the street. Ray was a huge Bama fan from day one. He loved attending football games in Bryant Denny Stadium and later when unable to travel to see games in person, he loved watching Bama play any sport on TV,including softball, gymnastics, baseball and of course football.
Ray was a devoted Christian family man. He loved his family so much and took great care of his wife Dolores until she passed away in 2008. He was a great father to his two daughters Mary and Maria. He thought they hung the moon and that they were capable of anything. He was the best Grandpaw to four grandchildren: Rebecca, Mac, Emily and Aaron.
Ray was a late bloomer to the activity of running, but he loved it. He participated in many 5k and 10k races in the area and as far away as the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta. He was known to win his age division on several occasions in races in Hernando and Senatobia. He ran from his 50s into his 80s. He built up to running six miles a day, six days a week, even in Mississippi Summer heat. Although if you knew Ray well, you knew he thrived in well heated areas.
Watson Ray Yeager was born in Tuscaloosa, AL. He grew up in Monroeville and Clanton Alabama. He graduated from the University of Alabama, where he met his future wife, Dolores Martin, on a blind date. He was a member of Theta Xi fraternity. His name still appears on the Business School’s wall as a high performing student.
Ray’s career began and ended with Sears Roebuck & Co. He joined their management program after graduation from the University of Alabama. Ray transferred several times with Sears. His initial move and starting position was in Gadsden, Alabama. While there he married Dolores Martin. From there they moved with Sears to Dothan, Alabama (where Mary was born), Columbus, Georgia, Charlotte, NC (where Maria was born), and finally Memphis, Tennessee. Ray and his family lived in Memphis for several years before Ray and Dolores built a house and settled in Hernando, Mississippi.
He loved that home and the neighborhood. He had great neighbors, who took good care of him there. Of course he did his part to take good care of them too, earlier in life. He would have preferred to live there his whole life, but after rehabbing from his first broken hip he moved to Wesley Meadows in Hernando, MS. He made some wonderful friends there and they took good care of him.
Ray was a longtime member of Love Community Church. He also faithfully served with Gideon’s International.
Ray was such a very strong man. He beat cancer twice, suffered two broken hips and was diagnosed with Dementia a few years ago. Ray came back with flying colors from the first broken hip, however was never able to recover from the second one. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at the Senatobia Healthcare facility on Monday, September 27.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Gideon’s International, Love Community Baptist Church, Hernando, MS or to a charity of your choice.
The family will be receiving friends Saturday, October 2, at 12 pm with a service to follow at 2 pm all at Hernando Funeral Home. Interment will be following at Hernando Memorial Park.
hernandofuneralhome.com
662-429-5260