Morris Yoder

Morris Harvey Yoder Obituary

Morris Harvey Yoder, 95, of Harrisonburg, passed away June 23, 2018, at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community.

He was born in Warwick County, Virginia, on June 4, 1923 to J. Harvey Yoder and Irene Hertzler Yoder.

Morris was the youngest in a family of ten children and was raised on a dairy farm with the help of his seven sisters and two brothers. As a toddler, he was saved from drowning by his four-year-old sister Helena, and as a young man, he was run over by a bus and recovered fully. In middle age, he lost an eye to ocular melanoma and outlived the cancer by half a century. He married Janet Elizabeth Weaver on August 10, 1948. They were married for 69 years and 10 months. Morris dairy farmed and served as president of Colony Farms Cooperative Dairy. Later in his professional career he pursued other business ventures. Morris was an active member and leader in the life of Warwick River Mennonite Church. With his wife, he retired to Harrisonburg where he became a member of Lindale Mennonite Church. In retirement, Morris continued to pursue his lifelong enjoyments of reading and gardening.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; daughter and husband Bonnie and Jim Beachy of Hinton, Virginia; son Ray Yoder of Union, Michigan; daughter and husband Jewel and James Hertzler of Harrisonburg, Virginia; son and wife Richard and Diane Yoder of Elkhart County, Indiana; grand-children Elizabeth Hansen and husband David, Kirsten Beachy and husband Jason Alderfer, Rachel Yoder and husband Greg Dixon, Jenna Yoder and husband Joe Hartman, Luke Yoder and fiance Meghan Borland, Kate Yoder, Nick Hertzler, and eight great-grandchildren; his sister Helena Yoder Wells of Harrisonburg, Virginia; many nieces and nephews, and a loving extended family.

A memorial service will be held at Strite Auditorium on the campus of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.

The body was cremated.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Good Samaritan Fund, 1501 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802.

Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.mcmullenfh.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to McMullen Funeral Home in Harrisonburg.