Dallas Yeager “DJ” peacefully passed away at his home in Huntsville on Monday, April 29, 2013 at the age of 91. He is survived by his wife, Eloise Gist Broome Yeager; his sons, Sam Yeager and wife, Angie, of Huntsville, Tim Yeager and wife, Janet, of Madison, Mark Yeager and wife, Cassandra of Hartselle and daughter, June Yeager Margin and husband, Alan Martin of Dallas, Texas. Dallas is survived by many grandchildren, Robert Yeager, Cassie Yeager Burke and husband, Ryan, Chester Yeager, Candy Yeager Edwards and husband, Brian, Steven Yeager, Joey Yeager, Julie Yeager, Aaron Yeager, Lance and his wife, Brooke Yeager, Anna Katherine Yeager, Mark Yeager Jr., Joe Yeager, Will Martin, Austin Martin and Clark Martin. His great-grandchildren are Corinne Yeager, Jackson Edwards and Annie Mae Edwards. He is also survived by a stepdaughter, Cheryl Holder and husband, Jack, of Scottsboro. He is preceded in death by his wife, Nadine Yeager; and his sons, Tom Yeager and Ben Yeager.
Dallas was born March 13, 1922, on a farm in Leoma, Tennesse, near the Alabama line, to Chester Martin and Bertha Hayes Yeager. He attended Ramah Elementary and graduated from Loretto High School. He had an older sister, Cleo Houston; a brother, James “Jim” and much younger sister, Mary Jo. Dallas was the last surviving family member. A member of “the greatest generation,” Dallas was no stranger to hard work. He worked the farm and he milked cows. Having “stared at the backside of a mule,” Dallas was determined he would find another way to make a living. At 18, with war looming on the horizon and knowing there was no money for college, he joined the navy. He thought any group that wore white clothes to work couldn’t be that bad! He was on the Battleship Texas when it was the flagship to Admiral Ernest King and was at the invasion of Salerno, Italy, on the cruiser Philadelphia. He learned Morse Code and was a fast typist thus getting the job of telegrapher. He served in both the European theater and later in the Pacific theater. Dallas was a bright young man, and the navy gave him an opportunity to travel, see the world, and go to school. He was accepted into Naval Electronics School. After the war was over, Dallas returned to civilian life, attended college at Florence State, now the University of North Alabama, where he met Nadine Melson. Just shy of a degree in math and with a new bride, he was shocked and dismayed when he was recalled by the navy to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The navy had automatically put the radio men on reserve. Nadine soon joined him in Cuba.
Nadine and Dallas built a life together, from their beginning in Florence, Alabama, in August of 1950, and where they returned for Dallas to finish school. Moving to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Dallas began his own business, Ridge Instrument Company, a dealer and manufacturer’s representative for test and measuring instruments. He later became a director contractor for the government. They moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and lived there for many years but land was in their blood. Dallas bought a farm (Jake Alexander homestead) near Nadine’s home place in Lawrence County. After several weekends on the farm and a summer there, they decided to move to the farm to give the boys a job. Dallas commuted daily to Huntsville and oversaw the farm operations. He also served on the Board of Joe Wheeler Co Op for several years.
Dallas loved life and lived it simply and fully. He enjoyed golf and played with his friends and family. Music was a natural gift for him and he could play several instruments by ear. He was not a pretentious man, but preferred to “make do.” He grew up attending church and never stopped. He served as an Elder at Aldridge Grove Church of Christ for many years. He tinkered, invented, and built. He lived a very fiscally responsible life and fulfilled his desire to leave his children with an inheritance.
Dallas and Nadine moved back to Huntsville to Brookdale Retirement Village when Nadine’s health declined. After Nadine passed away, Dallas became re-acquainted with a college friend who was also widowed, Eloise Broome. They were married in January 2008. Dallas’s health begain a steady decline as Alzheimer’s disease robbed him of his mind while his body remained strong.
Dallas had the good judgment to marry two wonderful women. They both came along beside him and made him a better man. Nadine and Dallas were married for 57 years and had many wonderful times together. Eloise and Dallas enjoyed traveling together and had many fun times before his health declined. Eloise’s daughter, Cheryl, drove them on many traveling adventures. Eloise compassionately cared for Dallas throughout his last days.
Funeral services will be held at Parkway Funeral Home, 23599 Alabama 24, Trinity, AL 35673, on Saturday, May 4 at 2 p.m. with visitation preceding from noon to 2 p.m. He will be interred at Moulton Memory Gardens following the funeral service. The grandsons will serve as pallbearers. A reception for family and friends will be afterward at the Yeager Farm House, 3006 County Road 86, Moulton, Alabama.
