Pearl Yager

Pearl Ellen Yager, 98, of Fort Collins, died Aug. 15, 2006, at Fort Collins Health Care Center. Pearl was born Jan. 6, 1908, in Elk City, Kan., to Riley C. and Frances Thomson. She came to Colorado helping to drive the covered wagon in 1916 and moved to their ranch on Buckhorn Mountain in 1917. She attended the Welch Park School on the ranch, Buckhorn school; one year in Oklahoma and through part of her junior year at Fort Collins High School. She received her GED at Fort Collins High School at the age of 65 and went on to get her GRI certificate and took various Dale Carnegie courses. She married Clarence Yager on Sept. 3, 1927. They bought their ranch in 1935, raised vegetables for local grocery stores, cut, sawed, delivered logs, various timber, raised horses, cattle and other livestock. In 1943, they bought their home in Fort Collins and continued. Pearl made wreaths, ropes, and grave blankets along with selling Christmas trees, boughs, and pine cones. They had a lumber/wood yard and owned a poultry house. Pearl did quantity cooking for several years including ATO Fraternity, various resorts, CSU Student Center and several summers at Pingree Park Forestry Camp. The last 10 years before retirement she was a realtor. Pearl was the top bareback woman rider in the area at 15 and one of the first women to receive her chauffeur's license in Colorado. She was the 12th recipient of the Pioneer of the Year Award in 2001. Pearl was a member of the Southern Baptist Church, Senior Center and Domestic Dames. She enjoyed riding horses, hunting, fishing, gardening, cooking, various crafts, and picking up pine cones. She was a lover of mountains, wild flowers and wildlife. Pearl started traveling in her 80s, which included visiting her out-of-state daughters, to Washington D.C., southern United States, Hawaii and an Alaskan cruise. Pearl's greatest love was the "Ranch." Survivors include three daughters, Betty Coats and companion Lloyd Jones of Bellevue, Joy Zipse of Clarkston, Wash., and Billie and Fred Stenzel of Evans; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, brother and husband. Those who desire may view Pearl from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday or from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Pastor Paul McGraw will officiate. Contributions may be made to Hospices of Fort Collins, in lieu of flowers, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 West Olive St. Fort Collins, CO 80524, 428-4244.