Fred Henry Yeatts of Sanger passed away on Monday, Sept. 25 in the midst of family. Fred, the middle of five children was born to Aaron Harvey Yeatts and Flora Ethel Kreger Yeatts on Sept. 23, 1940 on their homeplace in Sanger, Texas.

Fred graduated with the Sanger High School Class of 1959 and attended North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) where he received a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Science degree and did extensive doctoral work. After graduation he served in the US Army. Along with other awards he earned a special leave by winning the top spot in physical skills in his battalion. He was asked to train for the Green Berets but decided on civilian country life instead.

His varied careers reflected his wide-ranging abilities and knowledge: Farmer, Expert Woodworker, Process Engineer (Texas Instruments), Vocational Teacher, Inventor (Patent Holder), Business Owner, Manufacturing Analyst (Otis Engineering/Halliburton), Logistics Specialist (FEMA/DHS). He was fortunate to have met and worked with W. Edwards Deming the expert on quality and manufacturing.

Fred had a deep-seated belief that each of us should give of ourselves. A reflection of this was his life-long reaching out to share with others the talents that God granted him. To this end he taught Sunday School and Royal Ambassadors. He served as a deacon of First Baptist Church for 40+ years and was on many committees. He was a 4-H Project Leader.

When with Otis Engineering, he was a Junior Achievement Advisor and was responsible for his team wining Company of the Year and Product of the Year several times. He also won Advisor of the Year.

As part of his civic responsibilities, he served on the Sanger Planning and Zoning Board and the Industrial Board. At the time of his death he was serving on the Board of Directors of the Bolivar Water Corporation. He was an active member of Bolivar Masonic Lodge #418 for over 50 years and was a member of the Valley of Dallas Scottish Rite.

In addition to his long career, he purchased some over grazed land and working with the Noble Foundation restored it to native grasses. He further demonstrated his agricultural talent with a pecan orchard and greenhouses from which he loved to share.

He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years Sunny Smith Yeatts, his daughter Denise Yeatts-Klinke (David and Devri Logan) and her husband Rodney (Rebecca, Regan, Nolan), his "adopted" son Matt Boyle and wife Elizabeth (Thomas, Anthony, Jack), his brothers and sisters: Clyde and Evelyn Yeatts, Yvonne Cain, Don and Jane Yeatts, Susie Yeatts and many nieces and nephews, great grandchildren, and friends.

Visitation is 6:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 at Coker Funeral Home in Sanger, TX. Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at the First Baptist Church in Sanger. Interment will be in Sanger Cemetery, Sanger, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Sanger Education Foundation (sangereducationfoundation.org).

Services are under the direction of Coker Funeral Home in Sanger, Texas. Please offer your condolences to the Yeatts family at www.cokerfuneralhome.com.