Joseph Anthony Yeomans

Joseph Anthony Yeomans died just after noon on Thursday, August 17, 2017, at his home in Show Low, Arizona following a lengthy illness.  He was 83 years old.  Joseph was born on a Thursday, December 14, 1933, in Ossining, Westchester County, New York to his parents, the late Carl William and Rose (Gioio) Yeomans.  As a young boy, his father passed away and his mother married John Lobus, a man that Joseph grew to love as his own father.When he was about 14, Joseph moved to Arizona with his family, settling in Cortaro, Arizona.  He went to Marana High School and was a member of its "Class of 1951."  Just a few shorts months following his graduation, Joseph enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the the USS Oriskany (known as the 'Big-O') for 3 years.  He served as a Seaman 1st Class Sonar man and was always in the 'bottom' of the boat.  The Oriskany now rests at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean off of the Florida coast.  While on ship, he received many love letters from the love of his life, Joyce Helen Johnsen.  Joseph received his honorable discharge from the Navy in September of 1954.  Just before Christmas of that year, Joseph and Joyce married on December 17th in Gila Bend, Arizona.  Most recently, the happy couple celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary together.  Following their marriage, they moved to California.  In 1957, Joseph was involved with the testing and perfecting of the Rocketdyn in Simi Valley for the NASA Space program.  A few years later, Joseph began a new chapter in his life when he and his brothers began working together in a very successful flooring business.  Because of the quality and craftsmanship of their service, they were awarded many high-profile contracts including the installation of the "Walk of Fame" sidewalk in Hollywood in 1960.  In the mid 1960s, they were also responsible for the installation of all of the flooring at the L.A. Court House as well as LAX International Airport.  Joseph always looked for the 'fun' in life, and while working on the courthouse flooring, he helped lock a co-worker in a jail cell for several hours.  They had to call in security to help open and free their friend from the cell.  They laughed about that for years.  When Joseph wasn't working, he spent countless hours volunteering in the service of his family, friends and community.  He was a member of the Shriner's Sabbar Temple in Tucson and was a 32nd degree Mason, as well as a life member of the Veterans of Foreign War.  While living in Show Low, he volunteered at the Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center for 5 years and the V.A. Clinic in Show Low for 2 years.  He was also a member of "The Brothers of the 3rd Wheel," a three-wheeled motorcycle club.  Joseph was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is grateful that he and Joyce were able to enjoy the blessings of the Temple including their sealing, making their union an Eternal one. Joseph is survived by his wife, Joyce Yeomans of Show Low, Arizona; 3 children:  John (Vinita Meeks) Yeomans of Show Low, Arizona, Jennifer (Mickey) Dickson of El Paso, Texas and Tucson, Arizona, Joyce (Richard) Anderson of Show Low, Arizona; 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.  Along with his parents, Joseph was preceded in death by 3 brothers:  Carl Yeomans, Gene Yeomans and Phillip Yeomans. The funeral service will begin 3:00 P.M., Saturday, August 26, 2017, at the Downtown Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 300 N. 11th Street in Show Low, Arizona where the visitation will begin at 2:00 P.M.  The concluding service and interment will immediately follow at the Show Low Cemetery, where Military Honors will be rendered by the Veterans of the White Mountains.  Memorial Contributions, in Joseph's name to the Wounded Warriors Foundation have been suggested by his family.Joseph's family is thankful for all the expressions of sympathy they have received during this difficult season and are especially grateful for all of the prayers offered up on their behalf.