Wayne Yetter - 06/03/23

We gather today to mourn the death of Wayne Yetter, but also to celebrate his life. As we stand in this place today, we don’t want to lose sight of the fact that even though Wayne has died, he also lived—and lived well. So will you pray with me?

Our heavenly Father, we thank you today for the life of Wayne Yetter and the blessing that he was to each person gathered today. Help us today as we mourn to find that mourning tempered as we reflect on the joy of his life and on the hope of life beyond the grave. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wayne E. Yetter was born on December 6th, 1930, the son of Morris Ross and Cleta Pauline (Loop) Yetter. He graduated from Carthage High School in 1944. After high school, Wayne served in the army in Korea. He was proud of his service to his country, but was also profoundly affected by his experience there. He would not own a gun after returning home, having no desire to revisit any part of that experience. After he returned home from Korea, he owned a service station in Carthage, and then in 1957 he purchased La Harpe Motor Sales, a Ford dealership in La Harpe. In 1958, he was joined in the business by Bill Hasten. In 1959, he married his wife, Patricia Louise Henry, in Blandinsville.

Together, they had one daughter, Candy, who became an active part of the business throughout her formative years and beyond. Wayne and Bill sold the business to Ken & Carron Foster and Lenus Duffie in 2003, but continued to work for the newly formed K&C Enterprises up until the last few years. Wayne loved what he did. He adored his granddaughter, Rossi, and was so excited for his great-grandson, Stetson.

He died on Tuesday, May 30th, 2023. He was preceded in death by his wife on September 10th, 2021. He is survived by his daughter, Candy (Bobby) Lee, his granddaughter, Rossi (Blake Moore) Lee, and his great-grandson, Stetson Wayne Moore.

Over the past few days, I’ve learned lots of things about Wayne Yetter. I learned of his love for cars, and all things Ford. As a Ford dealer for nearly 50 years, Wayne had a particular loyalty to the company—a loyalty that was passed on to his family, though in recent years, Wayne had informed them that if they wanted to drive something other than a Ford, he would be ok with it…as long as it wasn’t a Toyota!

Any time they would go on a trip, the family says that Wayne had to find the local Ford dealership and at least drive by it to see. It didn’t matter how far off the beaten path the dealership might be, Wayne was intent on making the trip. Sometimes this took them into some questionable neighborhoods. Once, after returning from one of these trips to a questionable neighborhood, they discovered on the news that there had been a riot in that neighborhood shortly after they’d left. Still, Wayne wasn’t deterred from looking up dealerships again in the future.

Much of his life was spent at the shop. Candy grew up there, and knew how to start cars from a very young age. When Rossi came along, the same was true for her. When Candy went to kindergarten, Mrs. Crim remarked that she was the only 5 year old who could tell you all the steps to buying a new car from start to finish. She knew all the paperwork and how the business worked at a young age. That was because Wayne loved having her around. From a very young age, Wayne would take her with him on calls. Inevitably, after the call was over, they’d stop for some ice cream—which was a treat for Candy…but maybe an even bigger treat for Wayne! For as small as he was, Wayne could put away more ice cream than you could imagine, and he’d never pass up an opportunity to have it.

Through the years, Wayne and Bill gave lots of young men their start in the car business. Many mechanics started their careers at La Harpe Motor Sales. Lenus Duffie was one such mechanic. He began working for Wayne and Bill during his senior year of high school as part of the co-op program. The Monday after he graduated, he began work as a full-time employee, and has worked there ever since. Lenus remarked that Wayne always treated him like a son. He looked out for him, and wanted the best for him. Even when he and Bill planned to retire, he wanted to make sure that Lenus would be treated well with the new owners. He was delighted when Ken & Carron agreed to take over, as he knew Lenus would be treated with the respect he deserved.

Through the years, lots of people came and went at the dealership. Wayne and Bill were unique in that they were willing to give guys a chance that other people would have written off. They took care of these guys and tried to help them get on their feet and on the right path. Wayne did, however, joke that these guys surely took years off of his life. He was fond of saying that while he didn’t know how long he would live, he was certain that he’d have lived 10 years more if it weren’t for guys like Baldy Reed, Kenny Spiker, and Carl Humphrey. Still, I don’t think he regretted the investment he made in these men and many others like them.

Wayne was a kind and gentle man who never knew a stranger. The consummate salesman, he could chat up anyone. If you left him somewhere, you could be certain that when you returned, he would have made friends with those gathered nearby. Wayne didn’t often raise his voice, and rarely got angry. You knew when he meant business, but he was never domineering. People have great respect for a person like this.

Still, Wayne was fearless. Ken Foster relayed one of Wayne’s many stories about a time when he and a representative from Ford had to go and repossess a truck for nonpayment. As Wayne backed the truck out of the owner’s driveway, he was met by the owner, who had a shotgun trained on Wayne. After a brief discussion in which the man informed Wayne he’d shoot him if he took the vehicle, Wayne reminded him that he hadn’t made his payments. He put the car in gear, told the man, “I don’t think you’ve got it in you.” And drove away…unscathed.

As much as he loved the car business, however, Wayne greatest love was the women in his life. He loved his wife, Pat, dearly. He adored having such a close relationship with Candy, even though I’m sure at times he wondered if having her grow up around the garage was such a good idea. And when Rossi was born, she was the jewel of his eye.

He loved to do what he could to spoil his girls. On Candy’s 16th birthday, they went to get her driver’s license, and when they returned to town, Candy was disappointed that her dad made her go back and finish the school day. Unbeknownst to her, Cerece Hasten had been instructed to give her some keys at the end of the day…to the truck she’d been wanting that was now in the parking lot. Wayne made sure that Rossi had a good and reliable vehicle when she started to drive as well. He instilled in both of them the importance of keeping your car clean and in good condition. They all knew that you didn’t eat in Wayne’s car, or you’d be cleaning it afterward. If he’d had the chance, Wayne would have delighted in teaching the same lessons to Stetson. Once he heard that Power Wheels had released a version of the new Ford Bronco, he was on his way out the door to get one for his (as yet unborn) grandson!

Wayne was the kind of man who was willing to do anything for anyone. He wasn’t looking for recognition, he just felt that it was right. He believed that’s just how people should behave. One of Wayne’s beliefs was that the way you dressed showed respect for people. If he was going to a wedding or a funeral, he would always be dressed appropriately. The guys he worked with knew that if Wayne died first, they would be expected to show up to his funeral with a white shirt and tie. As you look around, you can see that message was heard loud and clear.

While Wayne’s love of ice cream was legendary, maybe less well-known was his skating ability. Wayne grew up roller skating in Carthage and became pretty good at it. In later years, he decided he wanted to try roller-blading, and proved to be a natural at that as well. I’m told they used to keep a pair in the shop, and even into his late 80’s, Wayne would take them for a spin around the shop, even jumping over the grate in the garage!

Wayne was also an ardent Democrat. He enjoyed discussing politics with others, as long as they could remain civil about it. Ken Foster said one of the best compliments he ever got was that Wayne told him that he should run for office, and that even though he would be running as a Republican, Wayne would vote for him. Tracey Anders said much the same thing, with Wayne telling him that he was the only Republican candidate he could ever bring himself to vote for.

While Wayne was a good man, who was well-respected by his community, he seemed to understand that ultimately earning the respect of others was not enough. He said that his mother had instilled a deep faith in him from a young age, and that he held tightly to the hope of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. If he did, then today Wayne Yetter is more alive that he has ever been, because Jesus promises that if we trust in Him, then we will live, even after we die.

This is the hope to which we cling today. Our hope is not anchored to Wayne’s goodness, but the forgiveness offered by Jesus. No matter how good a person is, the fact is that every one of us fails in many ways. God cannot simply overlook failure, because He is good. But He also provides a means for our failures to be forgiven. He says that anyone who will follow Christ and ask for His forgiveness will receive it. It is my hope that Wayne embraced that truth, and I hope that you will do the same.

Wayne Yetter’s life can teach us many lessons,

· The importance of taking good care of your car and keeping it clean.

· The importance of treating others with respect, even if they don’t deserve it.

· That you shouldn’t let your age keep you from enjoying the things you love—even if it makes the people around you nervous.

· The importance of doing what’s right, regardless of whether anyone takes notice of it or not.

· The importance of showing those you love how much you love them.

· That sometimes people from an opposing party may actually be good candidates, and you shouldn’t be too proud to admit it.

· That you can connect with anyone, if you just take the time to get to know them.

But of all the lessons we might learn from the life of Wayne Yetter, this might be the most important: that in the end, nothing matters more than following Jesus. Faith in Christ is not a mere theoretical issue, but an immensely practical one. Nowhere is that more evident than when standing in a cemetery. Our hope today is found not in the goodness of Wayne, but in the grace of his Savior. If you place your faith in Jesus and seek His forgiveness, then you too can live even though you die. And even though we mourn the loss of Wayne in this life, we are reminded that the story doesn’t end here for those who trust in Jesus. And that’s the hope to which we cling to, both today and in the days and years to come.

Will you pray with me?

Our gracious Father, we are grateful for the life of Wayne Yetter. Thank you for the impact he made in the lives of so many. Thank you for the example he set and the difference he made. Above all, thank you for building faith into His life. Thank you for making forgiveness and new life possible through Jesus. Help the friends and family gathered today as they grieve. Grant them strength, comfort, and hope in the days, months, and years to come. Surround them with your love, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.