J is for JD Yeakley - Uncle Jay Dee

I have more pictures of Uncle Jay Dee and Aunt Marie than any other family members. I bet that's because they lived less than an hour from us and we saw a lot more of them. Thinking back, it's an interesting dynamic. My Aunt Marie and I didn't get along until I was an adult. I think that's mostly because she had boys and wasn't quite sure what to do with girls. She got along well with my brother and other boy cousins. 

Jay Dee Yeakley was born on August 28, 1913 in Archer City, Texas. When he was 21, he married Halcyon Marie White in Wichita Falls, Texas. She was also from Wichita Falls. They moved around a lot from San Diego to the San Francisco area, ending up in La Mirada, California. He was a printer like his father and brothers.  

Probably taken in the 1960's at our house in La Puente, California
My dad, my mom, Uncle Jay Dee, and Aunt Marie

They had two boys, Jerry and Jimmy. I talked about Jimmy on letter "H". He died in Vietnam in 1967. Jerry is alive and well and living in the San Diego area. 

We spent a lot of time at their house, especially in the summer. When family came from Texas or Washington, we would gather there because they had a pool and it kept us kids busy while the grown-ups visited. Aunt Marie had an amazing orchard collection and a green thumb. 

Eventually, they moved back to the San Diego area, living in El Cajon. Uncle Jay Dee and Aunt Marie attended my mom's funeral in May of 1998. I had no idea he was unwell but he passed away six weeks later on June 17, 1998. Aunt Marie lived another 8 years. She still loved to raise orchards and the last time we visited, she had some very beautiful plants.