Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Joe Sampson Yearby, a decorated veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars who dedicated more than two decades to military service before returning home to North Louisiana, passed away on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. He was 95.
Born June 11, 1931, in Standard, Louisiana, Yearby grew up on a small family farm alongside 14 siblings. He graduated from Southern University in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Agriculture before receiving his officer’s commission in the U.S. Army.
During a 20-year military career, Lt. Col. Yearby served extensively in military transportation and traffic management, earning overseas postings in Japan, Germany, Korea, and France. His decorated service in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts earned him numerous military commendations, including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
Following his military retirement, Yearby continued his work in the transportation industry. Later in life, he returned to Louisiana and served as a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Monroe.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Sampson Yearby and Necie A. Johnson; 12 siblings; his first wife of 49 years, Anna Louise Cross Yearby; his second wife of 13 years, Jean Gowans Yearby; and two daughters, Zanetta Yearby and Sharon Renee Yearby.
He is survived by two children, Marlies Ann Yearby and Gerard Joseph Yearby; a brother, Edward Yearby of Baton Rouge; a sister, Lillian Walker of Rancho Cucamonga, California; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and an extended network of family and friends.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by McFarland Funeral Companies in Monroe. Services are scheduled as follows:
Visitation: Friday, September 11, 2026, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM at McFarland Funeral Companies, 1901 Burg Jones Lane, Monroe.
Funeral Service: Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 3205 Concordia Street, Monroe.
Burial: Friday, September 18, 2026, at the National Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Phoenix, 2929 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix, Arizona.
