Richard " Earl" Yancey

Richard Earl Yancey (“Earl”) October 23, 1940 – January 31, 2021 Funeral services for Master Sgt. Richard Earl Yancey (USAF Ret.), 80, of Lufkin will be held Saturday, February 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the McNutt Funeral Home Chapel in Lufkin. Visitation will be Friday, February 5, 2021, 6-8 p.m. Mr. Yancey was born October 23, 1940 in Freeport, Texas to the late Jimmie and Gracie (Bruno) Yancey. He died peacefully Sunday, January 31, 2021 in Newton, Texas Mr. Yancey lived in Freeport, Texas until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1958. He was known to friends and family as “Earl” or “Yancey.” He married the love of his life, Elizabeth Ann (Conner) Yancey on January 2, 1960. He served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force and was dedicated to his country. He served in many places in the United States and Germany and enjoyed traveling with his family and discovering interesting and exciting new things around all the places he was stationed. He became an expert at packing the vehicle for all these endeavors. He was a wonderful family man and an avid sports fan. He began coaching when he was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, by being a coach for a little league team, and played or coached something for many years. At one time he played in 2 softball leagues, coached a team for his oldest daughter, a team for his 2 younger daughters, and was the Commissioner of the girls’ softball program when he was stationed at Jacksonville Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Of course, that meant his wife got to be an “avid sports fan,” too, supporting him and their 3 daughters. He continued to coach his girls and play himself for many years, then helped teach his grandchildren. He moved his family to Lufkin, Texas in 1979 following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force to be closer to family and his aging parents and in-laws. He worked for several employers in Lufkin continuing to do the type of work he did in the U.S. Air Force. He enjoyed working for, among others, Central ISD, Pollok, Texas, as a maintenance man and bus driver; East Texas Chemical as a warehouse manager; and when he retired, he was working for Bogel Sales in Lufkin as their warehouse manager. He loved to watch football and got excited every year to watch the Little League World Series and the Women’s College Softball playoffs. He was a wonderful storyteller and had many stories. His strength, stories and sense of humor will be missed, and the family thanks God for the gift of his life and the blessing of the time they had with him. Mr. Yancey is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth Yancey; daughters, Cynthia Yancey; Diana Black and husband, Harrison; grandsons Omar Yancey and wife, Amber, Bradley Bynum, and wife, Shawnta, and Richard Smithheart; granddaughters Bridgette Evans and husband, Josh, Shelly Tafoya and husband, Andrew, Tracey Smit, Susan Griffin and husband, Antoinne; sister-in-law Linda Bynum and husband, Ronnie, and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Yancey is predeceased by his daughter, Wendy Smithheart; parents, Jimmie and Gracie Yancey; mother and father-in-law, Ruth and Lewis Conner; brother Johnnie Yancey; sisters Eleanor Webb and Janet Jackson; and his close friend, Lynn Mason. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the nurses and aides at Shady Acres Health and Rehabilitation in Newton, Texas, specifically the staff of Betty’s House and the dementia and Alzheimer’s unit. Their dedication and effort to provide quality and compassionate care, and specifically their care of Mr. Yancey was a blessing to the family. Memories and condolences may be added at mcnutfuneralhome.com.