Faith D Yoder

On Monday, January 24, 2022, Faith Yoder found her renewed strength as she walked into the outstretched arms of Jesus.

Faith Denise (French) Yoder was born on October 15, 1937, in McVeytown, PA, to Mark and Mary French. Faith married Robert Yoder on June 11, 1960. Robert was waiting for her alongside Jesus.

Faith is survived by her children: Lynn Yoder of Colorado Springs, CO, Jay Yoder of Phoenix, AZ, and Sonya McGee and husband Vern, of Grand Junction, CO: four grandchildren, Kevin Yoder, of Phoenix, AZ, Garrett Yoder and wife Kara, of Phoenix, AZ, Ross McGee and his wife, Tristan, of Meeker, CO, and Lauren McGee of Nampa, Idaho: and great grandchildren, Brayden Yoder, Harper Yoder, a soon-to-be born granddaughter. Lastly, her beloved cat, Shadow.

Faith was the oldest of four siblings. Preceding her in death was her brother, Sheldon French. She is survived by her brother, Randy French, and her sister, Andrea (French) Kauffman.

Faith was an angel on earth. Her family describes her as someone who loved.

Faith loved Jesus with all of her heart. And she loved her family. Faith loved her children, Vern, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. And she loved her brothers, her sister, her brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, and her many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Faith also really loved her cat, Shadow.

Faith’s sense of humor kept those around her laughing. For example, she was so excited to learn whether her new great grandbaby would be a boy or a girl, “because she couldn’t wait to find out if she was going to be a grandpa or a grandma.” Her laughter made others laugh, too.

Faith loved her community. She loved volunteering at Heirlooms for Hospice on Tuesday mornings and loved the people she worked with there. She loved her church, Emmanuel Baptist Church, and the occasional opportunity she had to play the piano for services. She loved her “Curves'' ladies that she would meet for lunch once a month. She loved going to her gym (Mesa Fitness, Clifton) and was there three times a week before most people were out of bed. She loved getting her hair “done” and loved the ladies at Cameo. She loved singing with the Messiah Choral Society of Grand Junction and attending the Community Concerts of the Grand Valley. She really loved her cat, Shadow.

Faith kept busy doing the things she loved. She loved playing the piano. She loved to read, so much that when she would check out a book from the library, she would put a little left-handed check mark inside the cover. That way, she would know that she had already read that particular book when she went to check it out again.

Faith loved feeding the hummingbirds and watching them eat. (Or perhaps she loved watching Shadow watching the birds eat. She really loved Shadow.) She loved doing yard work, insisting on mowing her own yard until just recently. Faith had one of the nicest yards in her neighborhood! She loved trying to root new plants. As odd as it may sound, she would take a cutting from a plant, either put it in water or soil, and it would grow!

Faith loved her neighbors. She loved handing out Halloween candy to the kids in the neighborhood. Faith loved having guests in her home. If you ever visited her, you were always asked to sign her guest book. She loved George W. Bush and Ronald Regan as evidenced by their photos discovered in multiple places throughout the “family” photo albums.

She loved Cracker Barrel. When driving around town, she would always point out “good spots” for one. She loved doing crossword puzzles and watching Jeopardy. She loved jellybeans and pink wintergreen mints. She sure did love her cat, Shadow.

Faith loved the changing of seasons and looked forward to Spring each year, anticipating her bulbs poking through the ground and her beautiful tree that would bloom soon. She looked forward to many trips to the greenhouse to fill her flower beds. She loved the hummingbirds returning in the spring and would call family members to announce their arrival.

Faith loved so well.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.” And Jesus spoke of the Greatest Commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

Faith did that, every day. Her season with us ended too soon, and she has certainly left a void in our lives. However, she was called to her Heavenly home and has found renewed strength. We miss her so much, but find comfort in that she is Home.

A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Grand Junction.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sara’s Home, PO Box 29, Peyton, CO 80831

(Thank you, mom, for loving.)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.callahan-edfast.com for the Yoder family.