Butlerville
George Franklin Yeager Sr., 88, of Butlerville, passed away at 9:50 p.m. Monday, August 8, 2016.
Funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 13, at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral & Cremation Service in North Vernon, by North Vernon Moose Lodge. George Yeager Jr. will officiate. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery, with military honors provided by members of the United States Army and VFW Post No. 2021.
Born August 18, 1927, in rural Shelby County, George was the son of Ernest Frederick Yeager and Mildred Margaret Williams Yeager.
George grew up and went to Zenas School in Jennings County. He joined the United States Army in February 1944 as a Private and retired in April 1967 as a Chief Warrant Officer. During those 23 years, he served as a Military Policeman in many parts of the world, notably Germany, Alaska, Korea (twice) and Vietnam. During this time period, he received many awards and decorations.
Upon military retirement, he worked almost five years as a security/police officer for Atterbury Job Corps. He later was employed as manager of North Vernon Moose Lodge for approximately 18 years. While associated with and working in the Moose organization, he became a life member and was elevated to the highest degree the fraternity offers, the Pilgrim Degree of Merit. He was also a 50-year member of Butlerville Masonic Lodge No. 219. For many years following, he worked odd jobs and cut wood as a hobby.
While stationed in Cincinnati, Ohio, George married Mamie Ruth Hall in July 1946. In 1949, daughter No. 1, Pamela Joy, was born at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. She died in 2005. In 1952, daughter Trudy Gay was born at Fort Knox, Kentucky. She died that same year and is buried there. During his tour in Germany, George Jr. was born in 1954. At George’s next assignment, in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, Deborah Rae was born in 1956.
Survivors include brothers, Tony Yeager of North Vernon and Fred Yeager of Florida; a sister, Reba Lucas of North Vernon; a daughter, Deborah Rae Hoover of North Vernon; a son, George Yeager Jr. of North Vernon; six grandchildren, Curtis Upton, Jeff Yeager, Trudy Whited, Jamey Gibson, Stacey King and Tracey Gibson; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mamie Ruth Yeager; daughters, Pamela Joy Upton and Trudy Gay Yeager; brothers, Curtis, Byron, Tom, Marion and Walter Yeager; two infant sisters; and a grandson, Todd Upton.
Memorials may be made through the funeral home to the Josiah D. Yeager Scholarship Fund, Moose Heart, Moose Haven or World Wide Education Work of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Friends are invited to light a candle or leave a message of condolence in George’s memory at www.sawyerfuneralservice.com.
