John Yelton

John Edwards Yelton, 56, passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at Wilkes Regional Medical Center, after a protracted battle with the disease of alcoholism and a brief related illness. Born May 30, 1959, in Concord, he was the son of the late J.D. and Jane Edwards Yelton. He was a 1977 graduate of Concord High School where he played on the Concord Spiders' baseball and football teams. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout through Covenant Presbyterian Church's Troop 264. In 1981, he completed Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta. John worked as a funeral director for 35 years, helping hundreds of families through times of grief. He was a devoted son to his parents and an exemplary caregiver to them in their later years. John was a genuine people person with a gift for remembering names. He never met a stranger and could carry on a conversation with anyone, winning friends with his brilliant smile and bright sense of humor. He was an active member of All Saints' Episcopal Church for several decades, and worked hard in the parish. He was hard working, self-appointed "keeper of the light bulbs". He'd go, methodically, through the church, replacing as many as 20 or 30 burned out bulbs at a time. He helped organize the silent auctions at the church's Old Countrie Faire for many years, and enjoyed preparing meals for fund-raising activities at the church. He was also very active in the first CCM bike ride for All Saints'. Extremely energetic, John loved to stay busy, whether it was cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, keeping a meticulous lawn, or growing his own produce. He was known, for several years running, to plant up to 65 tomato plants per season. He and his wife, Susan Furr Yelton, would put those tomatoes to use in a homemade salsa-making enterprise, then donate dozens of jars to All Saints' annual faire. In addition to his wife, Susan, he is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Leigh Yelton, and their children Garrett and Emily; his mother-in-law, Ruby Jean Furr; sisters- and brothers-in-law Jean and Delmar Kennedy, Tom and Celia Furr, and Linda and Vance Scarbrough; and additional nieces and nephews, Kristie Kennedy, Adam Furr, Emily Furr Hogan, and Melissa and Jennifer Scarbrough. A memorial service will be 3:00 pm Saturday, May 14, 2016, at All Saints' Episcopal Church with the Rev. Nancy J.L. Cox officiating. The family will receive friends in the Welcome Center following the memorial service. Memorials may be made to the Haiti Fund, All Saints' Episcopal Church, 525 Lake Concord Road NW, Concord, NC 28025.