Jay Alan Yerkes
September 19, 1977 ~ April 24, 2004
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Jay Alan Yerkes, 26, of 450 Mills Gap Road, Arden, went to be with the Lord Saturday, April 24, 2004.
Jay was born in Illinois and was a graduate of T.C. Roberson High School. He was a self-employed artist and designer whose media included metal, wood, glass and stone. He attended The Body as well as Grace Community Church.
His family include his parents, James L. and Carol Fleming Yerkes; one sister, Lisa and her husband Mark of Hendersonville, one niece Kyleigh and two nephews, Kolin and Kaden.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with Minister Matthew Bacoate officiating. Burial will be at Shepherd Memorial Park, Hendersonville.
His family will receive friends from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and request that memorials be made to “Life on Life’s Terms”, a Gospel based rehabilitation center, 60 Flint Street, Asheville, NC 28801.
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Jim & Carol,
So sorry to hear about your son, Jay. At a time like this, words are hard to find, but praise God, we can claim the promies in God’s Word, that one day we will all be together with the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love and Prayers. Will Be with your mother tomorrow.
Love, Maisie
Love and Prayers. Will Be with your mother tomorrow.
Love, Maisie
Love and Prayers. Will Be with your mother tomorrow.
Love, Maisie
Our hearts ache for you. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jim and Heather
Jim, Carol, and Lisa,
I am holding you all in Christ’s Light as I am Jay. I know that God has brought Jay home and that he is at a place of peace that none of us can ever imagine here on earth. While he is missed so intensly at this time, it is so comforting to know that we too will all be home someday. Jim said it so well when he told me that God said ‘Jay, come on, it’s time to come home’. I called to let you know I was praying for you all and, you brought me comfort.
Please know that our family holds you all in our hearts, our minds, and in our prayers.
God’s Love is with us always,
Brenda Jones
Dear Jim and Carol,
I was saddened to hear of the loss of your son. With all of the faith in Jesus, he is happy in the arms of the Lord and smiling down on you all,knowing how blessed he was to have you as parents. May God bless you all. Our prayers are with you.
Rev.22:1-5.
Jimmy Crouch and family formerly of Asheville.
We are so saddened by your loss. Jay was a classmate of our daughter Melinda Elingburg and we have fond memories of a sweet boy. May God help you in your saddness and know that our prayers are with all of you. The Elingburg family
Jay was a great friend. He will not be forgotten.
Dear Jim,Carol & Lisa Fred & I were so sadden to hear about Jay. We wish we could have been with you. May the Lord continue to strengthen you and comfort you all at this very difficult time in your lives,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mr. and Mrs. Yerkes and Family,
My deepest sympathies to each of you. Jay was a fine young man. He will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Jim & Carol: I know Barbara & I saw you last night at the funeral home,but you know God’s promises and one is will all be their one day again to see each other in the promise land of glory, so just keeping looking to Jesus. My Jay’s life and death will touch his friends that doesn’t know our Lord & make that decision to see Jay again. My our Father in heaven will continue to bless your entire family.
Dear Yerkes Family,
We were so saddened to hear of Jay’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you this day, and pray especially that you feel God’s closeness and love for you and you precious son, Jay.
God Bless,
Don & Kelly Rilea
I went to high school with Jay. While I did not know him all that well, we did talk on many occassions. I was deeply saddened at the loss of this unique young man. I always knew there was something very special about him. I know he will be deeply missed. I will be praying for your family.
Dear Carol, Jim, & Lisa,
Our hearts ache with you at the sudden loss of Jay. What a tragedy. May The Lord give you comfort during these difficult days.
Love in Christ,
Dale, Carole, Kim, and Missi Byrom
Is. 26:3&4
It has been a whole year now since Jay is gone; hard to believe. Thank all of you for your prayers, support and condolences. It has helped tremendously. While I’m still saddened by Jays death and I miss him terribly, I know I shall see him again one day soon….
Jim, Carol, and others in Jay’s Family,
I am friend of Maxine Fisher and Helen Yerkes and learned of the loss of your precious son from Carol Byrom. My heart aches for you, and I will be praying that the Lord will comfort your hearts as you antipate a grand reunion in Heaven. In the meantime, draw close to the Comforter and cherish the sweet memories of your precious Jay.
Prayerfully,
Catherine Jeunnette
Tribute to Jay Alan Yerkes submitted by Paula Crouch on April 26th, 2004.
I was so saddened and shocked by the news of Jay’s death. My husband, Larry, coached Jay many years ago in youth soccer. Years later, I worked at VSMS and became more acquainted with Jay. No longer at the school, I ran into Jay about 4 years ago when I was working downtown. He had grown into quite a nice-looking young man. He remembered me and we talked briefly. It was a pleasant conversation. I want to express my sympathy to you and your family. Words never seem adequate, but I know that God will lift you with His Grace and love. My prayers are with you.
Paula Crouch
Asheville, NC
Submitted my Susan Campbell on April 27, 2004
Hello Jim.
I read about your son in the paper today. I just wanted you to know that my thoughs and prayers are with you and your family.
I know God’s peace will be with you.
Love in Christ,
Susan
Tribute to Jay Alan Yerkes submitted by the Elingburg family
on April 27, 2004
Jim, Carol and Lisa,
We are so saddened by your loss. Jay was a classmate of our daughter Melinda Elingburg and we have fond memories of a sweet boy. May God help you in your saddness and know that our prayers are with all of you.
The Ellingburg family
We didn’t know Jay at all, but were visiting Asheville and saw the makeshift memorial on the street last Saturday afternoon. Even in his death, Jay has continued to reach out, touch lives, and make us all better people. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Submitted by Curt and Annie Miller on May 27th, 2004
Dear Uncle Jim and Aunt Carol,
We are sorry to hear about Jay. We really wanted to see him before we left for China. It was a shock for us when we got the news. I feel sorry that we could not be there to attend his funeral. I was thinking of him as we were flying to Asia when reading a magazine article about a glass craftsman. We read about him at the funeral home website. I hear many friends came to show their sympathy. Now he is marvelling at the creations of Heaven. Won’t it be great when we can all be reunited there! I’m sure this tough time will help in some mysterious way to make you stronger in the faith and to help others in need. I hope that the belivers there are supportive of you and your family. It seems so hollow and empty in our hearts when a young life is taken suddenly. You just can’t explain the feeling. It doesn’t seem right, but only by His divine will was it allowed. I hope you will not be discouraged or depressed. Please let victory reign in your heart. My best wishes and blessings go to you all. We still remember you.
Love,
Curtis and Annie Miller
P.S.(Please understand this letter has to use general terminolgy because of where we live now. I would like to talk more about things above but I hope you understand.)
Submitted by Delores and Ben Treece on June 1, 2004
Dear Jim and Carol,
We were so sorry to hear of the loss of your son. Please know you are in our prayers and thoughts. We are still in Florida, but will return to Asheville in July. Please feel free to be in touch with us at anytime if we can be of any help to you and your family. We are good listeners and we truly care about you and your struggles.
Love in Christ,
Delores and Ben Treece
I am so sorry. I am praying for you all. I know that God has comforted you and will help you through this and has already begun to give you peace.
To the Yerkes’ Family,
Please know that all of you are in our thoughts and prayers.
We know that your strength comes from the Lord and He will help you through this difficult time in your lives.
God bless you all,
Tommy and Jessie Koontz
To all of you, especially Lisa,
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Marilyn Ferrell
TC Roberson High School
I am so sorry. I don’t know what to say. If I can do anything at all please let me know. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling but know that you are in my prayers. Bethani and Mom send theirs also.
Carol & Jim,
You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Lean on the Lord because his grace and mercy will carry through these days.
With His blessings!
Pat & Mike
Jim & Carol, I came to know you all as a family in April of 1987 when Jay was only 10 years old. Jay was a very nice young man, was always polite & courteous in every way. He will be missed by his friends, but more by his loving family. Please lean on the LORD,not only during this time, but always. HE will provide you with strength, faith, courage, love & HIS grace will get you thru the valleys. Hold each other & let HIM guide you and always keep Jay as a part of your lives. You will feel his presence with you when you least expect it. My prayers are with your family and you will see Jay again one day.
Debbie Pruett
State Farm Insurance
Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with you. May God be your comfort, and fill that hole in your heart with His love and peace. We know the pain you feel. Can you imagine how our heavenly Father felt when his only son died for us. Praise God we will see our sons again. We sorrow not as those who have no hope! We love you both.
My thoughts and prayer go out to the family. Jay will be missed. Although I knew him only a short time, I learned of his artistic expression, creativity, and drive to learn and build on the things that would allow him achive his goals. I will truely miss him and feel honored to have been given the oppertunity to know him. God be with him. Until we meet again, my friend….
Jim and Carol, my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Sandra Crawford
Dear Jim, Carol and Family,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. We know the pain you bear, and we share in your sorrow. But it is just for a season, one day we will be reunited with all of our loved ones who have gone before. Praise God for that Blessed Hope.
I was so saddened and shocked by the news of Jay’s death. My husband, Larry, coached Jay many years ago in youth soccer. Years later, I worked at VSMS and became more acquainted with Jay. No longer at the school, I ran into Jay about 4 years ago when I was working downtown. He had grown into quite a nice-looking young man. He remembered me and we talked briefly. It was a pleasant conversation. I want to express my sympathy to you and your family. Words never seem adequate but I know that God will lift you with His Grace and Love. My prayers are with you.
Paula Crouch
You have my deepest sympathy and my prayers go with you both, and with Lisa, of course. Having lost a child I know how devastating it can be and having lost Ray last summer I have a renewed awareness of the pain. May God give you peace and understanding of His will. Love – Doris
Carol, Jim & Lisa – It seems such a short time ago we were watching our children grow and praying that one day their hearts would be tendered and a decision made to accept the free gift of eternal life. We all rejoice that our children made that decision and were assured of eternity in a place far greater than earth. Jay made that decision and we know that one day those that have accepted Christ as their Saviour will see him again. We do look to the day that we all will be together again. What a day of rejoicing that will be!
Our prayers are with you during the days ahead. All our love,
Dear Jim and Carol,
We are lifting you up in prayer. May you feel God’s peace and love during this very difficult time.
Love, Jimmie and Miriam
Jim and Carol, We share your loss and pray that God’s Love will give you peace and strength. Love Harold and Barbara