Sophia Jane Turner Yeary
A daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandma.
5 November 1936 – 22 February 2015
Born in the mining town of Fonde Kentucky, Sophia Jane was the daughter of Gray and Leva (Wilson) Turner, who preceded her in death. As a child, she moved to the family homestead on Turner Lane in the Old Yellow Creek District in Middlesboro, now known as Noetown.
Growing up on Turner Lane was not without excitement. Sophie was the seventh child of 13, which kept Gray and Levy busy during the years of the Great Depression. Years apart in age found each kid pulling their weight to put food on the table. And that made the Turner family close and strong and willing and able to conquer anything this world threw in their way.
Each of the Turners learned from their dad and mom a work ethic that can not be exceeded, all working hard to support their families. Bill, Mable, Lorene, Arthur, Irene, Martha, Clarence, Patsy, Don, Barbara. If you know one of these Turners, you knew them all, hard working, family loving, all traits from their dad and mom. Sophie herself worked at Middlesboro's Woolworth's candy counter, Monroe's Kaybee Drugs and JC Penney until her health made it very difficult to work.
Sophia met a boy from the Junction, Floyd Sherman Yeary. After his Army years they were married on a hot August morning outside of the Tazewell Courthouse in a taxicab. A taxicab because it was air conditioned, quite a luxury on a hot August 4, 1956 morning.
2 children were born of this union, Brenda Kay (David) Jones and Floyd Edward (Cynthia Sweatt) Yeary.
But her pride and joy were her 5 grandchildren, David, Sara, Macy, Christian, and Caleb. She loved each one the same, something else she learned from her mom and dad and coming from such a large family. Ask her who her favorite was, they were all the same, she had that much love for them.
Sophia Jane Turner Yeary, born 5 November 1936 in Fonde, Kentucky. She married Floyd Sherman Yeary on 4 August 1956 in Tazewell, Tennessee. She died 22 February 2015 at St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, Ohio from complications of Black Lung Syndrome.
Sophia was preceded in death by her parents, brothers; Bill, RJ, Donald, sisters; Anna Mae, Lorene Orick, Irene Burch, half sister Elsie DeMarcus, in-laws; Vernon Johnson, Bill Burch, Wayne Loope, and Daryl Johnson.
Visitation will be held on Friday from 3-7 PM at the Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161 where funeral services celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 11:00 AM. The Rev.'s Heath Hunter and Nicholas Wheland will officiate. She will be entombed at Roselawn Memorial Park.