Chester "Rollie" Yeazel
1893 - 1979 (85 years)
Generation: 1
Generation: 2
Generation: 3
1. Chester "Rollie" Yeazel was born on 11 Sep 1893 in Homer, Champaign County, Illinois; died on 21 Jun 1979 in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois; was buried in GAR Cemetery, Homer, Champaign County, Illinois. Other Events:
- Occupation: farmer
- Religion: Center Point Church
- Census: 1920, Sidell, Vermilion County, Illinois
- Census: 1930, Sidell, Vermilion County, Illinois
- Census: 1940, Sidell, Vermilion County, Illinois
Notes:
Rites held for Rollie Yeazel, 85, former Fairmount mayor
Funeral services for Chester Rollie Yeazel, 85, former mayor of Fairmount and well known throughout this area, were held Saturday, June 23 at the First Church of Christ in Catlin, with Ken Fetters officiating. Following the services, interment was in the G.A.R. Cemetery at Homer, with the Carrington Funeral Home of Fairmount in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Yeazel died at 9:45 a.m. June 21, 1979 at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Danville. He had been a patient there since June 15.
He farmed for many years in the Center Point neighborhood northwest of Sidell. After retiring from the farm, he and his wife moved to Fairmount. He served as mayor of the village for 18 years, and took an active part in the civic life of the community.
He was a member of the First Church of Christ in Catlin, the Christian Mens Builders class, Catlin Masonic Lodge, Danville Scottish Rite, and Order of the Eastern Star. Since retiring, he has conducted a chair caning and woodworking business at his home.
A son of Adam and Sarah Cessna Yeazel, he was born in Homer on September 11, 1893. He married Sophia Hedges on October 24, 1915 in Fairmount. Mrs. Yeazel died September 19, 1974.
He is survived by two sons, Harold of Marion, Ind., and Howard of Catlin; two sisters, Mrs. Mabel Stayton of Ogden and Mrs. Bertha Hartley of Decatur; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three sisters and two brothers.
Sidell Journal, Sidell Illinois. Thursday, 28 June 1979
Chester "Rollie" Yeazel was born to Adam and Sarah Yeazel in Homer. In 1915, he married Sophia Cordella Hedges in Fairmount, and they had two sons: Howard and Harold Yeazel. Rollie and Sophia lived in the Center Point area for 27 years, starting in 1918 and were members of the Center Point Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday School superintendent. They moved to Fairmount on March 6, 1945 and he entered public office in 1949, serving as Fairmount Mayor until 1968, including a short time in the early 1960s when he initially didn't seek re-election, but was asked to return after the winning candidate stepped down shortly after election. Improvements under Rollie Yeazel to the town of Fairmount included the installation of the water system and water treatment plant in 1951 at a cost of $135,000 that was raised through municipal and revenue bonds, new signals and gates for the railroad crossing and natural gas that was pumped in from the Sidell area. After he stepped out of public office, he took up the hobby of caning furniture.
Contributor: LISA DAVIS (50366112)
1920 US census, enumerated 6 January 1920
Sidell Township, Vermilion County, Illinois
C.R. Yeazel, age 26, farmer, rented farm
Sophia, age 27
Harold, age 1
1930 US census, enumerated 21 April 1930
Sidell Township, Vermilion County, Illinois
Chester R. Yeazel, age 38, farmer, rented farm
Sophia C., age 37
Harold R., age 12
Howard B., age 9
1940 US census, enumerated 18 April 1940
Sidell Township, Vermilion County, Illinois
C.R. Yeazel, age 46, farmer,
Sophia, age 47, housewife
Harold age 22, farmer
Howard, age 19, student
1950 US census, enumerated 4 April 1950
Fairmount, Vermilion County, Illinois
Chester R. Yeazel, age 56
Sophia, age 57
member of Center Point Church
On 1 May 1932 Lonie Strand and Rollie Yeazel were elected deacons of Center Point Church.
On 29 September 1940, Rollie Yeazal and Glen Moreman were elected trustees of Center Point Church to take the place of J.T. Edwards and John Smith. George F. Hedges remained as the third trustee.
When Center Point Church closed and was sold, George F. Hedges, Cora B. Hedges, Rollie Yeazel and Sophia Yeazel united with the Catlin Church of Christ on 17 September 1946.
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75774585/chester-r_-yeazel
Block 16, Lot 34, Space 3Chester married Sophia Cordella Hedges on 24 Oct 1915 in Fairmount, Vermilion County, Illinois. Sophia (daughter of George Fielden Hedges and Cora Belle Gritton) was born on 10 Nov 1892 in Jamaica, Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 19 Sep 1974 in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois; was buried in GAR Cemetery, Homer, Champaign County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 2. Harold Ralph Yeazel
was born on 6 Mar 1918 in Fairmount, Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 15 Nov 1988 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 18 Nov 1988 in GAR Cemetery, Homer, Champaign County, Illinois. - 3. Howard Baldwin Yeazel was born on 21 Nov 1920 in Fairmount, Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 29 Aug 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma; was buried in Oakridge Cemetery, Catlin, Vermilion County, Illinois.
Generation: 2
2. 
Harold Ralph Yeazel (1.Chester1) was born on 6 Mar 1918 in Fairmount, Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 15 Nov 1988 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 18 Nov 1988 in GAR Cemetery, Homer, Champaign County, Illinois. Other Events:
- Religion: Center Point Church
Notes:
member of Center Point Church
Baptized 18 March 1931
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105457778/harold-r-yeazel
Block 16, Lot 34, Space 1Harold married Verniece Sylvester on 20 Aug 1940 in Kankankee County, Illinois. Verniece was born on 28 Nov 1918 in Illinois; died on 7 Jan 2015 in Gifford, Champaign County, Illinois; was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Sidney, Champaign County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 4. Harold Gene Yeazel was born on 15 Apr 1943 in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 28 Feb 2017 in Carmel, Hamilton County, Indiana; was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Sidney, Champaign County, Illinois.
Family/Spouse: Mildred Faye Stewart. Mildred was born on 8 Nov 1922 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; died on 8 Dec 2011 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried in Washington Park North Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
3. 
Howard Baldwin Yeazel (1.Chester1) was born on 21 Nov 1920 in Fairmount, Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 29 Aug 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma; was buried in Oakridge Cemetery, Catlin, Vermilion County, Illinois. Other Events:
- Religion: Center Point Church
Notes:
member of Center Point Church
baptized at Homer, 25 April 1934
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75774342/howard-b_-yeazelHoward married Betty Keller on 15 Nov 1942. Betty was born on 7 May 1922 in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 9 Mar 1999 in Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida; was buried in Oakridge Cemetery, Catlin, Vermilion County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 5. Donna Lea Yeazel was born on 1 Jan 1944 in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 11 Sep 2018 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana.
Generation: 3
4. 
Harold Gene Yeazel (2.Harold2, 1.Chester1) was born on 15 Apr 1943 in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 28 Feb 2017 in Carmel, Hamilton County, Indiana; was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Sidney, Champaign County, Illinois. Notes:
H. Gene Yeazel, 73, of Carmel, Indiana, formerly of Sidney, passed away at 10:57 a.m. EST Tuesday (Feb. 28, 2017) at home.
Mr. Yeazel was born April 15, 1943 in Danville, a son to Harold and Verniece Sylvester Yeazel. He married Susan Collins on July 31, 1971 at Clarksville, Indiana. They were married for 45 years; she survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Adam Yeazel, Hans (JP) Yeazel and Lucas (Damari) Yeazel; four grandchildren; a brother, Bob (Diane) Yeazel; two stepbrothers, Kent (Linda) Krukewitt and Lynn (Kathy) Krukewitt and a stepsister, Jo (Case) Mazic.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Gene served in the U.S. Army Reserves for six years. He was an insurance producer for 31 years for Country Companies in the Homer/Sidney area. After retiring from insurance, he worked in real estate for six years. He was a member of Sidney Lion's Club and was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Free Mason.
He loved taking long drives and traveling with his wife and children; he especially enjoyed San Belle Island in Florida. As a young man, he was a great trumpet player; he played taps at many Memorial Day celebrations and local military rites and also played in dance bands. He played football for Jamaica during the team's undefeated season in 1959.
News-Gazette, The (Champaign-Urbana, IL)
H. Gene Yeazel
By The News-Gazette Mar 2, 2017
https://www.news-gazette.com/obituaries/h-gene-yeazel/article_27b9c658-aa2c-58e2-8282-2ec7101c4ecb.html
SIDNEY – H. Gene Yeazel, 73, of Carmel, Ind., formerly of Sidney, passed away at 10:57 a.m. EST Tuesday (Feb. 28, 2017) at home.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Sidney United Church, Sidney, with the Rev. Mike Picklesimer officiating. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Sidney, with military rites being accorded. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. Freese Funeral Home, Sidney, is handling arrangements.
Mr. Yeazel was born April 15, 1943, in Danville, a son to Harold and Verniece Sylvester Yeazel. He married Susan Collins on July 31, 1971, at Clarksville, Ind.; they were married for 45 years; she survives. Also surviving are three sons, Adam Yeazel of Bloomington, Hans (JP) Yeazel of Bloomington and Lucas (Damari) Yeazel of Carmel; four grandchildren, Ashlyn and Emmy Yeazel and Aiden and Lillian Yeazel; a brother, Bob (Diane) Yeazel of St. Joseph; two stepbrothers, Kent (Linda) Krukewitt of Homer and Lynn (Kathy) Krukewitt of Texas; and a stepsister, Jo (Case) Mazic of Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Gene served in the U.S. Army Reserves for six years. He was an insurance producer for 31 years for Country Companies in the Homer/Sidney area. After retiring from insurance, he worked in real estate for six years. He was a member of Sidney Lion's Club and was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Free Mason.
He loved taking long drives and traveling with his wife and children; he especially enjoyed San Belle Island in Florida. As a young man, he was a great trumpet player; he played taps at many Memorial Day celebrations and local military rites and also played in dance bands. He played football for Jamaica during the team's undefeated season in 1959.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905
5. Donna Lea Yeazel (3.Howard2, 1.Chester1) was born on 1 Jan 1944 in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois; died on 11 Sep 2018 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana. Notes:
obituary from findagrave
Donna Lea Merriott passed away peacefully in Indianapolis, Indiana on September 11, 2018 at the age of 74. She was born on January 1, 1944 in Danville, Illinois to Howard and Betty (Keller) Yeazel.
She graduated from nursing school at Marion University in 1980. After moving to Indianapolis she began working for Community Hospital as a registered nurse, retiring in 1997. She was “ER Nurse of the Year” in 1985.
Donna is survived by: her son, Thomas (Christina) Merriott; daughter, Ronna Lea (Christopher) Gordon, grandson: Christopher Alan Gordon, and brother: Kenneth (Sandy) Yeazel.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Ronald Alan Merriott, parents: Howard and Betty Yeazel, and nephew: Caleb Yeazel.
She was a Charter and active member of the Lebanon Christian Church, Eastern Star and Sagamore chapter of ABWA (American Business Women’s Association).
Visitation will be held from 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Myers Mortuary, 1502 North Lebanon Street, in Lebanon, Indiana. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 17 at the funeral home in Lebanon. Interment will follow services at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon.
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193070216/donna-lea-merriottDonna married Ronald Alan Merroitt on 13 Feb 1971 in Catlin, Vermilion County, Illinois. Ronald was born on 25 Jan 1937 in Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana; died on 9 May 2013 in Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana; was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]