C is for Clarence Eugene Yeakley - Uncle Gene

My uncle Gene was the second youngest child of Ernest Marvin Yeakley and Nancy Ellen Jones. He was born in Oklahoma on May 30, 1923 and died in Sacramento, California on July 18, 1963. He was five years younger than my mother.

This is the photo taken after Ellen's death. In the back, Noel, Don, Marvin (my grandfather), Jay Dee, and Lee. In the front, Gene, Ruby (my mom), Ruth and Lola Mae. Not the best picture but the only one I have with Gene. 

Uncle Gene never married. His whole life was about the Air Force. He served in World War II and Korea. He always wanted to be a pilot but never passed the physical because his eye sight was not good enough. So, instead, he rode in planes, taking care of the photographic equipment. Since my grandfather was a photographer, Uncle Gene came by it naturally.

When I was small, he would pop in unexpectedly and spend weeks with our family. He was always fun to have around. He would bring gifts for my mom. My brother has the tea set he brought her from China. If you hold the teacup up to the light, a geisha appears. He brought her scrimshaw from India. He had interesting stories and I loved it when he arrived. After he left us, he would head to Washington to visit Aunt Lola and her family.

He was 40 years old when he died, way too young. He was killed in an auto accident when two young kids, sharing the driver's side seat belt, lost control of the car, hitting him head-on in his lane. The whole family gathered in Sacramento to say goodbye. 

The family at the cemetery. 

Ruby (Yeakley) Rhea, Paul Curtindale, Ernie Rhea behind Paul, Ruth (Yeakley) Edmonds, Marlin Rhea, Jay Dee Yeakley behind Marlin, Marie (White) Yeakley, Jerry Curtindale, Noel Yeakley, Alta (Rogers) Yeakley, Lola Mae (Yeakley) Curtindale, Vivian (Crawford) Yeakley, Don Yeakley. 

Uncle Gene should have been in this picture. I wasn't because I took the picture.