Vella Mae Yeilding

Vella Mae Yeilding, age 90, of Spring and formerly of Brownwood, passed away on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Funeral Services will be at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at Scott’s Funeral Home with burial at Restland Cemetery. Visitation will be an hour prior to the service.

Vella Mae was born June 1, 1929 as the youngest daughter of Wesley Ward Cooper and Molly Ann Maines Cooper.  She was a member of the Gatesville High School class of 1947, where she loved playing basketball and volleyball.

After high school she worked as a grocery store clerk until she married S.L Yeilding on July 26, 1947.  SL had surrendered to preach, and the Lord led them to Howard Payne University in Brownwood to obtain their degrees. While attending college, S.L. was the pastor of Salt Creek Baptist church near Brownwood.  They soon moved to Oklahoma and spent 6 years there pastoring churches and serving the Lord together.  In September of 1956 they decided to return to Howard Payne to finish up the college degrees. Vella Mae graduated in 1958 with an elementary teaching degree and a minor in homemaking.  As the ministry moved S. L. and Vella Mae around the state of Texas she taught in New Home, Wellman, Westbrook, Brownfield, Lamesa and many other school districts.  She retired after teaching for 28 years, a career she loved. Vella Mae loved sharing her faith with students and members of their churches.

Vella Mae is preceded in death by her husband, S.L Yeilding; her grandson, Clint O’Brien; her parents and all her brothers and sisters. 

Vella Mae is survived by her two daughters, Debra Holly and husband, Dub of Magnolia, Texas and Susan O’Brien and her husband, Barry of Lamesa, Texas.  She has three grandchildren, Brad Holly and wife, Jennifer of Castle Rock, Colorado, Lori Davis and husband, Stacy of Wylie, Texas and Staci Umsted and husband, James of Spearman, Texas.  She has nine great grandchildren, Brittany, Brianna, and Julianna Holly, Ryan, Linli and Natalie Davis, Jayli, Kamryn and Brooklyn Teeters.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Rose of Texas Hospice for their care and support.  Also Unlimited Care Assisted Living for their love and care for Vella Mae for the years she lived there.

Donations can be made to Salt Creek Baptist Church, 7775 FM 3100, Early, TX 76802 or The Rose of Texas Hospice, 1610 Woodstead Court, Spring, TX 77380.