Raymond Yeager

Raymond H. Yeager, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, May 16, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born Jan. 7, 1921, in Kurten, Texas, son of the late Joe and Lena Herzog Yeager. He and Mary O'Leary were married June 1, 1943, in Gulf Port, Miss.

Mr. Yeager served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He moved to Cape in 1958 from Mount Vernon, Ill. He retired after 40 years with Local 513 Operating Engineers. He was a member of Elks Lodge, lifetime member of VFW Post 3838, and Eagles Aerie.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Raymond "Hank" Yeager Jr. and wife Jane of Glendale, Ariz., James Michael Yeager and wife Linda of Freeburg, Ill.; three daughters, Judy Zerr and husband Richard of St. Charles, Mo., Patricia Yeager of Casa Grande, Ariz., Barbara Manning and husband, Steve of Phoenix, Ariz.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and three sisters.

There will be no visitation.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Cemetery, with the Rev. Derek Swanson officiating. Military rites will be conducted by VFW Post 3838.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105, or Teen Challenge International Mid-America, P.O. Box 1089, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-1089.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.