Stanley Yancey

On July 15, 1930, Clara Nell Fussell gave birth to a handsome baby boy at her family home in Tullos, Louisiana. Nell was a very young single mother, but she had all the love and support she needed from her mother, father, brothers and sister. The time was during the Great Depression and they all worked very hard to support and provide for each other. I remember when Nell was still alive, she showed me old pictures taken during this time and she still had a few of the food ration stamps mixed in with her photos. It was a very tough time for all. While Stanley was still young, Nell met a young man named Claude Allen Yancey. Eventually they were married and Claude proudly adopted Stanley as his son and gave him his name. Claude worked for a logging company for a while and also in the oilfields in Louisiana. I remember Nell telling me the story of when Stanley climbed one of those tall pines and fell and broke his arm. She told me he came home from the doctor with a cast on his arm and just a few days after, they caught him, arm still in cast in that same pine tree again. I guess he was showing everyone at a very early age, nothing was going to stop him from doing what he wanted to do. I believe this is a trait he has passed down to all of us. Claude, Nell and Stanley moved around during the Depression following the work in Louisiana and eventually moved to Carthage, Texas. Stanley attended elementary and middle school while they lived there. Eventually work brought Claude and his family to Houston. If I remember correctly, he worked for Brown & Root. By this time Stan was in high school and attending Sam Houston High, in downtown Houston. He loved to read, made good grades and loved sports. While in high school he played basketball, football and baseball. Of these, he loved baseball, the most. While in high school, his senior year he made “The Press 1948 Schoolboy All-City -1890 Style” Baseball Team. While he was in high school, he did meet “the love of his life”, Mildred Lee Decker. Stan graduated high school in 1948. He was pursuing his baseball dream. He played for several teams during this time. Mildred would graduate in 1949. By this time he was traveling and playing baseball for the Jacksonville Ball Club, Jacksonville, TX. Eventually, Stan and Mildred were married on August 11, 1950. They were both very happy together; he had his girl, he was playing baseball and getting paid to do what he loved. Unfortunately on the other side of the world things were not so bright; The Korean War had started and our country would now enter this conflict. Stan eventually got his draft notice and entered the U.S. Army on May 19, 1952. He was very concerned about leaving; not for himself, but for Mildred because she had recently found out she was pregnant with their first child. He was in basic training in California, and then in training with the U.S. Air Force. He was training to be a paratrooper and he got his wings. It was November 20, 1952 when he was called out of the chow line to see his officer because he had received a telegram. The telegram was from Mildred telling him he had a baby girl, Debra Yvonne Yancey. I believe he came home for a short visit in December 1952 because I found a picture of him holding me. I did not know my father until 1954 when he came home from Korea. I had no idea who this person was coming into my life. Stan survived the war and lived to tell about it. When he returned from the war, it was time to settle back into family life. Stan soon experienced grief when he lost his father Claude in 1954 shortly after he returned from Korea, but their family continued to grow. Teri Lee Yancey was born May 9, 1956. Shortly after her birth, Stan & Mildred purchased their first home in the Idylwood subdivision. My brother Stanley Barron Yancey, Jr. was born August 10, 1959. Stan realized he could not go back to the traveling baseball club team because of his growing family. Stan started playing fast pitch softball in Houston. He played on many teams throughout the years. Some of the ones that stand out were, the Houston Police Department, J.H. Rose Truck Lines, Metallic Steel Bldgs., Stran-Steel Bldgs. and Pasadena Sporting Goods. It was usually the same group of men playing, just different sponsors. During the 50s & 60’s they were some of the best fast pitch softball players in the state of Texas. Most every tournament they were in they won. They also went to the Softball World Tournament two times. Stan continued to play softball until about 1970. This is what our family did on the weekends. Stan went to work at the Port of Houston. He worked for several warehouse companies over the years. He met many people over the years he worked there, but some stood out and were considered family: Charlie Eckols, Gary Belcher, Allen Deisch, Pancho Damen, Glen Einkauf, and Jurgen Schroder. Stan and Mildred suffered terrible grief in 1993 when they lost two of their younger children within a week of one another. Teri Lee Smith passed away May 19, 1993 and Stanley Barron Yancey, Jr. passed on May 25, 1993. Parents should never have to bury their children. I believe this made them closer and stronger. After he retired, Stan and Mildred finally moved to Arkansas to build their dream home on the White River. They met and made many friends over the twenty years they lived there. Stan loved to entertain and always had their new friends over for drinks in his new bar in their home. Every year there was a big 4th of July party and another on New Year’s Eve. Of course our families in Texas would visit and stay as often as we could. When they moved they also moved Stan’s mother, Nell with them. She enjoyed being on the river as much as they did. Again Stan suffered grief. He lost his mother Nell. Sadly she passed away November 4, 1999. As Stanley and Mildred grew older and their health was declining, they realized it was time to move back to Texas. They moved back and moved into independent living at Watercrest at Bryan. Again meeting and making new friends. They lived there for 3 years. As happy as they were, their health continued to decline. Mildred’s heart was growing weaker and Stan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia. He would recognize people and family, but he did not know our names. Sadly, Mildred passed away on January 6, 2023. Stan continued to stay with Richard and myself for almost six months. He was always looking for his wife. He had a fall and went into the hospital for almost a week and from there his care was transitioned to hospice. Then on July 7, 2023, Stan left us to be with Mildred, “the love of his life.” You will forever stay in our hearts. We love you Sonny Boy, Stan, Daddy and PaPaw. Rest in peace and have a few beers with you old buds. The Addison family and staff of Magnolia Funeral Home extend condolences to Stanley's family and friends during this difficult time.