Jerry Lee Yelton passed away peacefully on December 3, 2025, at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills in Forest City, NC leaving a tremendous void his family will never be able to fill. Up until the end, Jerry maintained his humor, kindness, grace, compassion, love of family and friends while constantly expressing gratitude for his life.

Jerry's life can best be described by six words: Faith, Family, Friends, Hardworking, Food and Fun. In his 75 years here with us, he experienced an abundance of each.

Jerry was preceded in death by his father Gilbert “Clyde” Yelton, mother Gladys Elizabeth (Betty) Yelton, and brother Gilbert Yelton. He met his loving wife Cynthia Godfrey Yelton in 1966.  Married in May of 1968, Jerry and Cynthia maintained a loving and committed marriage of 57 years. Together they raised three children, Jerry Michael (Lauren) Yelton of Sewickley, PA, Connie (Don) Reid of Isle of Palms, SC, and James Lee (Sherry) Yelton of Forest City, NC.  The crowning glory for Jerry was his grandchildren: Jerry Taylor Yelton of Washington DC, William Yelton of Boulder, Colorado, Jacob Smith of Columbia, South Carolina, Anna Yelton of Cleveland, Ohio, and Teddy Yelton of Forest City, NC.  Jerry is survived by sister Diane (whom he affectionately called ”Worm”) Yelton, brother Larry (Santoya) Yelton, and sister Cindy (Donny) Henderson.   He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.  Jerry delighted in everything about his role as a father and grandfather or” Paw”.  He made it a point to be as engaged as possible with his children through time together (family meals were a favorite), regular phone calls, daily texts, voicemails, and recently some of his famous forwarded Tik-Toks.  

Jerry cherished his extended family and friends.  He had many friends and invested meaningful time with them whether it was visiting with him at Jerry & Son Body Shop, a business that he owned and operated with his son James or his breakfast buddies, or his hunting and fishing buddies.  He was known not just for enjoying his friendships but for being a good friend as well.  He never met a stranger and often “assigned” those he favored with a nickname that typically stuck with them from that day forward.  Many of his hunting buddies know him only as “Fuzzy,” based on the beard he kept for many years.  He was the friend who would drive you to appointments, tour the area counting deer, or simply join you for a long afternoon conversation.  He was always fun and engaging and enjoyed keeping people company.    He was also known to drop off goodies that he asked momma (wife Cynthia) to cook at your front door just because.  If you spent any time with Jerry, you most likely enjoyed a joke, a tall-tale, or prank just to make you laugh.  Jerry knew that friendships take work to maintain and he was willing to put in the effort, thus got to reap the rewards.  All of those that were close to him feel blessed that they had the chance to know him and are all the better for it.  His family is proud of the life that he lived, and will always cherish the legacy he leaves behind.

A service to celebrate his life will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at The Padgett and King Chapel with a eulogy provided by Artie Rollins.  The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 3 PM prior to the service at Padgett and King. The family will be at the home of Mike and Lauren Yelton on Doggett Road, Forest City.

Memorials may be made to the Rutherford County Backpack Program, c/o Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation, 382 West Main Street, Forest City, NC 28043 or at rcsedfoundation.org 

The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com