Charles E Yeaton Iii

Charles E. "Chuck" Yeaton, III, 56 Canfield: Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at 5:00 p.m at Canfield Methodist Church, 27 South Broad Street, Canfield for Charles "Chuck" E. Yeaton III, 56, who went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 29, 2015 after fighting a short illness. Chuck was born May 15, 1958, the son of the late Charles E. Yeaton Jr. and Janet Williams Yeaton. He was a 1976 graduate of Canfield High School and joined the US Army and was a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant. After qualification in the late 70's he was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group then located at Ft. Devens, MA. He completed his initial enlistment and returned to his home in Youngstown, OH where he joined the Army Reserve as a Staff Sergeant for Operational Detachment 224, Company B, 2nd SF Bn, 11th Special Forces Group (Airborne.) Unfortunately in November of 1985, on a night parachute jump in the vicinity of Vienna Reserve Air Force Base, the winds aloft took Chuck into a 10, 000 volt power line. The team medics on the jump got to Chuck very quickly which saved his life. The accident left him unrecognizably burned over 90% of his body and resulted in the loss of his left arm. Doctors repeatedly gave him little chance for survival, and he faced hopelessness with a victorious hope, and he defied death many times during his very long recovery. His injuries were so bad he was eventually medically retired from the Army. The burns took his left arm but Chuck never lost his love of life and he never lost heart. Chuck continued to exhibit a tremendous courage and an inner drive to where he'd never give up. As he lived out his life, he shared all that he had, he loved with everything in him, and he shared his courage and strength with everyone he met. Retired from the Army, one of Chuck's passions and pastimes was horticulture. He loved growing exotic plants and doing research in his greenhouses and enjoyed his work with local organic farms. He was a member of Canfield United Methodist Church. His main passion however was people and his biggest gift was the gift of his time. He was a Scout Master and coached Canfield Little League and helped out in the classrooms of Canfield Schools . But it didn't end there; he and his wife Elaine continually opened their home to many folks, young and old, who needed a place to stay; sharing all of their resources to help someone get their feet back on the ground. Chuck had an amazing gift of finding and bringing out hidden talent and abilities in everyone he met, especially when they couldn't see it in themselves. You were never down and out if Chuck was nearby. In doing so, his family has grown by many who were the recipients of this unconditional love and care. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 30 years, Elaine Sayenga Yeaton of Canfield; three sons, Job James Yeaton, Taylor Kline and Sean McCourt all at home; two brothers, Robert Yeaton of Akron, and Kenneth A. Yeaton (Andrea Kondas) of Canfield; three sisters, Pam Bolton Cleghorn (Tom) of Canfield, Leslie Bolton Mathis of Boulder, Colorado, Shelly Bolton Dean (Barry) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; his step‐mother Jane Bolton of Canfield; mother-in-law, Carmen Sayenga of Puerto Rico; sister-in-law, Cindy Greaux (Dean) of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and a host of family and friends. Besides his parents Chuck was preceded in death by his grandparents Edwin and Mary Yeaton, Robert and Eleanore Williams; brother‐in‐law, Steven Mathis; his father-in-law, James F. Sayenga and an uncle, Paul R. Kruest. Friends may call on Tuesday from 2:00 5:00 p.m. at Canfield Methodist Church. Following the 5:00 p.m. service there will be military honors by the Ellsworth VFW, Post # 9571. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lane Family Funeral Homes, Canfield Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests material tributes take the form of contributions to Boy Scout Pack #25, c/o Canfield Methodist Church; Disabled American Veterans, or to Canfield Little League. .