Devon Lee Yockey

Devon Lee Yockey, 55, of 309 Kingston Dr., a Plymouth resident most of his life, died, following an extended illness, at 10:03 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2002, in Saint Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind. Devon was born in Plymouth on March 31, 1947, the son of Elwyn Lamar and Irene Elaine Ritchey Yockey. A 1965 graduate of Plymouth High School, he earned a B.S. in Music at Indiana State University and a Master’s degree in Music from Miami University, Miami, Ohio, where he was a Graduate Assistant. During college he was a sales representative for Selmer Clarinet. He taught marching and symphonic band at Zanesville, Ohio, and later, managed an L&K restaurant both in Ohio and in Plymouth, Ind. Devon directed the LaVille-North Liberty Community choir for 13 years. He was Choir Director both at the Pretty Lake Trinity United Methodist Church and the Sumption Prairie Methodist Church. For a number of years, Devon was a sales representative for Shirk’s Music in Mishawaka and Hedman’s Music in South Bend and Elkhart. Always involved in music, Devon was a member of the Sojourner’s Quartet. For years, he was the coordinator of the bands for the South Bend Ethnic Festival and had also assisted with the bands at the Marshall County Blueberry Festival. Devon is survived by his mother, Irene E. Yockey and by his sister and her husband, Rita Mae and Larry Thornton, all of Plymouth. Three nieces, also of Plymouth, survive as well. They are: Jessica and James Clements and their daughter, Kiara; Jennifer Thornton; and Julie and Jason White and their son Rilee. Devon was preceded in death by his father, Elwyn and a sister, Beverly Ann Yockey, and a niece, JoAnn Thornton. Visitation with Devon’s family will be on Friday, April 19, 2002, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, and for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday, April 20th. Funeral services, officiated by the Rev. John Perkinson, pastor of the Shiloh Wesleyan Church where Devon was a member, will be in the church, 10532 4 B Road, Plymouth, on Saturday, April 20, 2002, at 10 a.m. Burial will be in New Oakhill Cemetery, Plymouth. Memorial gifts in Devon’s memory may be made to the American Diabetes Foundation or the Shiloh Wesleyan Church.