Obituary of Louis Wesley Yeldell

Wesley came into this world April 27, 1951, in Bastrop, LA at Morehouse General Hospital. Welcoming him into this world were his parents Louis Edward and Ivie Lee Hughes Yeldell, and older brother, Donald Yeldell.

The Yeldell family established it’s presence in the area of Log Cabin, LA, just North of Bastrop. The original homestead was settled by his great grandfather Louis Wesley Yeldell, Sr.(who is his namesake) around 1880. Of his children, Wes’s grandfather, Louis Wesley “Sonny Boy” Yeldell, Jr. Married Maude Ivan Alford, and brought forth two sons, James Wesley and Edward Yeldell, who was Wesley’s father. These details of Wesley’s predecessors were of particular interest and pride to him, in part to his determined pleasure in genealogy, that began about 1980. He found friends and family, known and unknown with this pursuit, and whenever possible sought them out to glean anecdotes first hand, and the pleasure of better knowing from where he had come. His mother’s family of Beardens’, and Hughes, was blended, but no less interesting. One of his mother’s sister’s favorite quotes, that she found humorous was, “I have family that I am not even related to.”

Wesley was a loving, caring, precious gift to those who knew him. His personal involvement in caring for his father Ed, was paramount in his life for the majority of his last decade. Several times he felt the need to say goodbye to him, and then rejoice in his slow recovery from the brink of death. Throughout the challenges of being for health decisions and management , as well as personal hands-on care of his father for the last three bed-bound years of his life, Wesley showed his love and dedication going to battle for him, and by always demanding the best, of all care he could receive. The dramatic toll his father’s recent death took on him can not be understated. The idea of dying from a broken heart may seem unlikely , unless you were near enough to feel the change in Wesley at his father’s death. It was his constant and fervent prayer that he be able to care for his father at home, and not leave this earth before him. It was granted.

They were united in their faith that this life is temporary, and that a heavenly home awaited them. Fear was not a part of Wesley’s last days, and he talked openly about the joy of being reunited with his beloved mother, sister, Marsha, and recently, his father. In the better days of Wesley’s life he worked offshore as a Federal Marine Radio operator. He worked in retail, on a couple occasions, and managed, along with his family, Sonic Drive-ins. It is hard to say what Wesley enjoyed most when it came to work, but for certain it would be a toss up between driving the tour bus for The Hemphills or Limousine driving in Houston, TX. He could recall each and every person of note he was privileged to accompany. Often it was necessary for him to be away from his family while working multiple jobs simultaneously, and that was the one regret he openly shared. Having played a major role in the care of his sister, Marsha Kay, he knew the solace that service could bring. He left the workforce in order to care for his father, knowing that the past could not be changed, but today, and the future was his to decide.

As one of the fewer and fewer people that send Christmas cards, he prided himself in getting them out early. Truth be known, he wanted to be the first anyone received. More than personal pride, it was another indication of how much he valued people, and their feelings.

His hobbies were few, but baking to share with others was his passion. Known for his love of making and delivering, thousands of sweet potato biscuits, from a family recipe. He even shared the dough for others to bake freshly and pass off as their own, some returning later to really learn for themselves. Not long ago, in a never to be forgotten session of biscuit making with his grandchildren, Colttan and Cailey, the spark was passed. Pies were another gift of choice for him to share. He often said “He loved food - eating it, not cooking it.”

The world held a fascination for him as he was able to visit, and see personally, places that he had only heard of before. Travels of exploration were made so very special when retold through Wesley’s viewpoint.

Mr. Yeldell is preceded in death by his beloved mother, Ivie Lee-Hughes Yeldell; his sister, Marsha Kay Yeldell; and most recently his father, Louis Edward Yeldell.

His legacy includes one brother, Donald Edward Yeldell and wife Rita. From his marriage to Deborah Harrison Webb, they were blessed with three “great” sons. His sons are Brad Yeldell and wife Stacey of Swartz, LA, Chad Yeldell and wife Emily of Log Cabin, LA, and Whit Yeldell and wife Amelia of Winnsboro, LA. Grandchildren include Colttan Yeldell, Cailey Yeldell, Briar Yeldell, Gauge Yeldell, and Khloe Yeldell, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins too numerous to count, but not too numerous to love. Additionally, Wesley leaves a loving soulmate of twenty years, Maurice Hinton, who shared his last breath while caring for him.

Serving the family as pallbearers will be John Williams, Ricky Lynn Yeldell, James Wesley Yeldell, Tanner Yeldell, Luke Cook and Ronnie Harrison.

The family would like to say "Thank you" to Dr. Carter Cox, Jr. for many years of special care.

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Monday, December 17, 2018, at First Assembly of God with Rev. Dusty Walker and Rev. Ezra Cook officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Baptist Church Cemetery under the direction of Golden Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 5 PM until 7 PM Sunday, December 16, at Golden Funeral Home.