Joe H. Yancy

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Joe H. Yancy, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

He was the son of Henry & Lopha Yancy. Raised in San Fernando, Ca, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Joe was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Joe was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Joe was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, Joe also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. Joe was raised with two siblings. He had 2 older sisters. The older, Valta Lee & Tommie. Joe was constantly involved in activities with his family. Joe and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Growing up, Joe was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. He was content to entertain himself. Joe was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, he was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything he did as a child, Joe was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around him. Joe took part in a number of activities as a child. He took part in basketball & track.

Joe enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Joe was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Joe was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. He graduated from San Fernando High in 1951. Joe enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. Joe exceeded in both basketball and track.

Most folks would say that Joe was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. Joe was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, Joe best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that he made, Joe kept. While growing up, some of his best friends were Frank Edwards, Jimmy Cone, & Donny Johnson. Later in life, he became friends with Jim & Sharon Price, Ed & Grace Overstreet, Jimmy Heinz, & Gordon Beck.

Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Joe. On May 27, 1956 Joe married Carolyn Johnson in Las Vegas, NV. He was totally committed to Carolyn and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Joe naturally sensed his spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Joe disliked conflict, he did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

Joe was a good father to his children. He had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because he trusted emotions, Joe was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way he seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around him, always thinking before acting. In addition, Joe was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around him might be, he seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Joe was blessed with three children, one son, Tim and two daughters, Lori & Lisa. They were also blessed with five grandchildren, Aaron, Briana, Dana, Kerry and Zachary.

If you gave Joe a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Joe was always on task. Without hesitation, Joe could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was Installation Superintendent. He was employed for 30 years by Hoffman-Atchley Cabinets, Inc. During that time, Joe excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Joe was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Joe had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

Joe was an Army Veteran. He seemed to thrive on the routines offered up by the military. Being a literal thinker with a calm exterior helped him handle the rigors of the military. He was in the Army during 1952-1954 and served in Korea during the Korean War. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Sergeant.

Joe liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Joe's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Joe preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were fishing & cars. Joe was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes.

While thorough and measured in his approach to things, Joe often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. He was like that with sports. In high school, Joe played basketball and ran track. He also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, he was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were professional basketball & baseball.

When Joe's retirement finally arrived in 1996, he was well prepared. He had taken the time to learn about his various options and chose his course wisely. Even in retirement, Joe continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.

Joe passed away on May 29, 2012 at home surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; children, Tim, Lori, & Lisa; grandchildren, Aaron, Briana, Dana, Kerry, & Zachary; great grandchildren, Caiden & Graham. Services were held at Eternal Valley Memorial Park Mortuary, Chapel Oaks. Joe was laid to rest in Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Garden of Peace in Newhall, Ca.