Douglas Lee Yearton

May 1, 1945 – September 1, 2025

Douglas Lee Yearton was born May 1, 1945, in Miami, Oklahoma, to Defoe and Ruby Yearton. His family moved to Joplin, Missouri, where Doug and his brother were raised. His dad ran a Sinclair gas station and a small grocery store. He went to elementary school and high school there.

His dad became ill and passed away when Doug was fifteen. He moved with his mom to California. He enlisted in the army in 1965. He was stationed at Mount Milpitas in San Francisco at first, but then was reassigned to Frankfurt, Germany. His soon-to-be bride, Donna, flew to Germany, where they were married. His daughter, Shelley, was born while he was stationed there in 1968. He was honorably discharged and returned to California. His son, Douglas Lee Yearton the second, came along on July 3, 1970. Doug was a devoted Dad to his kids.

After returning to the USA, he worked many jobs, from carpentry to car sales and repair. He worked for quite a few years at Pittsburgh Plate Glass. Wherever he worked, he made friends, and he worked at keeping in touch whenever he moved on to new jobs.

His whole life, he was a people person and made lifelong friends. Once he counted you as his friend, he kept in touch. If you popped into his head, he’d stop whatever he was doing and call you to see how you were doing. If you needed help, he would quite literally give you the shirt off his back.

You could tell he was a positive person by his whistling and singing. He often didn’t even know he was doing either, but a song would come to him and he’d start whistling it. He always looked for the silver lining in every situation.

He retired early to take care of his late wife, Mickey, through her illness. It was then that they moved to North Fork.

He had several passions: in his younger years, he loved roping (mostly heeling), then motorcycles and cars, bowling, and clocks and more clocks. Here in North Fork, he was known as “The Clock Guy”.

A little less than three years ago, he married Meg King Yearton. They made each other very happy. His heart was big; it had to be to embrace so many friends and loved ones. But it finally gave out on him. We will miss you, Douglas Lee Yearton, always.

Please join us for a celebration of Dougs life at North Fork Town Hall, 33060 County Road 28, North Fork, on September 27, 2025 at 11:00 am. Reception to follow. The family requests that any donation be made to the veterans organization of your choice.