Jimmy Eugene Yoder

Memorial service for Jimmy Eugene Yoder will be held at 1:30pm, Thursday, January 11, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Chickasha, OK.

Jimmy Eugene (Harris) Yoder passed from this life into the loving arms of Jesus on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Jimmy was born on October 25, 1931, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Alvertice Mae (Westfall) Harris and George Thomas Harris.

His younger days were spent in Chickasha, Ninnekah, and eventually Fletcher, OK, where he graduated from high school and met the love of his life. He joined the US Navy and served in the Korean War on the USS Marshall, DD 676. Toye convinced him that she was "the one" when she wrote letters to him when he was serving overseas. Upon his return from war, he married Toye Walker and entered into civil service. He then attended College at Cameron and Central State University and got a Bachelor of Science degree. He became a Mathematics teacher in Lawton, Oklahoma. Eventually, Jim became a computer analyst at the Federal Aviation Administration where he worked with computers that were as large as a large room.

Jim loved the outdoors. He had a large garden and orchard for many years and often grew the family's fruits and vegetables for the year. He also raised cattle and was a wonderful artist creating many oil and watercolor paintings. Jim is known for his quiet manner; however, he loved having family around him. Jim loved the mountains and spent many summer vacations with his family in Colorado camping, fishing for trout and sightseeing. Jim extended his love for the outdoors to his grandchildren. He took them to the lake, camping, boating and swimming when they were young.

Jimmy told of the time when he was 15 that he invited Jesus into his heart at the invitation of a lady for whom he was working. Although he was quiet about everything, including his faith, he insisted that he was a child of God.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Toye Yoder, his parents Alvertice Westfall Jones, his father George Thomas Harris and stepfather Cullen Jones.

He is survived by children James Yoder and his wife Gina, Jan Yoder Harrison and her husband David. His grandchildren are Maegan Womble, Jeremiah and Joshua Yoder, Hannah Keepers and husband Kris, Emily Roberts and husband Nathanael, Autumn Stark and husband Tyler, Tabitha Toye Harrison, Lacy Thompson and Mark Baxter. His great-grandchildren are Isaac and David Keepers. He is also survived by his sister Nettie Fisher and husband Bobby; their Daughter Lauren Smith and husband Travis and their children Ethan and Alleigh Smith. Jim is also survived by many loving family members on Toye's side of the family.

Cremation arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.