Zachary Indiana Yeary

Zach Yeary, 24, of Kansas City, MO, passed away on September 9th, 2018.  He was born on March 10th, 1994 in Johnson City, TN to James Yeary and Marie Barclay.  Zach attended Farragut High School in Knoxville, TN and was a dedicated Volunteer, Royals and Celtic fan.  He pursued his culinary art dreams in Kansas City and recently became Executive Chef at Aramark Honeywell.  Zach loved the water, the beach and fishing.  He enjoyed music including making music in his spare time.  Zach had many friends and enjoyed spending time with them whenever possible.  Zach is preceded in death by his PeePaw, James Yeary, Sr.; aunt, Donni Middleton.  He is survived by his parents, James Yeary, Jr. and Marie Barclary; sister, Chanel Yeary; grandmother, Sue Yeary; grandparents, Robert and Donna Flores; aunt, Sophia Yeary Scott; cousin, Ashley Green and husband, SFC Devin Green;  second cousins, Dominique, Dorian, and Dylan; cousin, Amanda Cansler; second cousins, Arriana and Dakota; aunt and uncle, David and Paula Yeary along with their son, Connor; aunt, Laura Flores; uncle, Jimmy Shown; and girlfriend, Erin Johnson.

A visitation will be held at Amos Family Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS 66203 on Wednesday, September 19th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.  A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, September 20th from 5:30 to 9:00 at Holiday Inn Midland Drive, 17346 Midland Drive, Shawnee, KS 66217.

If you would like to donate in Zach’s name, contributions may be made to the gofundme below:

Zach Yeary

The family also suggests if you are inclined to do so, flowers may be sent to The Amos Family Funeral Home for the visitation on Wednesday night.

Zachary Indiana Yeary was born in Johnson City, TN on March 10th.  Yes, his name is from the movie character.  Don't ask why.  I liked it.  She liked it and so we just stuck with it.   But I digress; Zachary came into this world and not without his fair share of drama.  You see, Zachary decided he didn't want to join us and as a result his mother was induced.  My recollection is that things went pretty smoothly… for me, that is.  Zachary quickly did things his way and pissed the Dr. off after being born by refusing to breathe.  The Dr. returned the favor and pissed him off and our boy came to life with all he had in him.  I believe this to be a foreshadowing of what was to come from the new man-cub of the family.

He was quite a sight to behold, a beautiful, baby cave-man looking thing.  He had a mop of black hair.  He was hairy all over and at this moment in time, just wasn't too happy about the situation.  But he was my man-cub and so we took him home and started our new life of adventure.  Long about three months later, this adventure took a wrong turn and Zachary became quite an unpleasant fellow.  Crying, fussing, and never happy, the man-cub was upset about something.  We soon figure out that our little cave-man was hungry.  So we started him on a little rice cereal and Shazaam!!  Happy Zachary and now we have a happy family… once again.  Zachary was a joy as he grew up.  He was an energetic, normal little boy that did all the things that little boys do as they grow up into big boys.  He loved fishing, basketball, video games, music, playing guitar and was always surrounded by friends and family that loved him.  I know he loved his mom, very much.  I know he loved his sister, very much.  How do I know these things?  Because he drove them very much as crazy as he drove me!  I joke.

Sometime during his early childhood, Zach's nickname became "Paco".  Don't ask why.  I liked it, he liked it and so we just stuck with it.  Zachary also had a few names for me as he grew up.  I will share the ones that I am aware of.  I started off as "Daddy" and that later became "Pops".  Pops somehow became "Papa Bear".  I was Papa Bear for a long time and then one day it turned into "Papa Smurf", which soon became just, "Smurf".  The last incarnation was that Smurf  became, "Smurffles".  Don't ask why.  I liked it.  He liked it and so we just stuck with it.

We are both proud of our son and considering all the challenges of life, we did a pretty good job as divorced parents.  Overall, I think he turned out pretty good!  Now is the time where as you are reading this, you ask.  Do you have any great parenting advice?   Well actually….no.  I have no parenting advice or parenting secrets to share with you.  Figure it out for yourself.  You are on your own, so just deal with it.

So, now is the time where you ask:  Do you have any great wisdom to share from this tragedy?  Well…yes, yes I do.  I believe as a parent you should "know" where your child is in the event of such a tragic loss.  Are they in a better place?  I believe that the answer is simple and I will share it with you.  There is a verse in the Bible - John 3:16.  It says and I quote:

"For God so loved that world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  Amen.

As Zach's father, I feel secure and relieved that I know that he is in a better place.  He is smiling down on us.  I know that I will see him one day soon and we will share many more wonderful times together again.  Now is the time where you ask:  How do you "know" that Zachary is in a better place?  Well, honestly…because he told me.  He said and I quote:  "I'm good… I'm real good…Smurffles."

Thank you all for the love, support and kindness in all of its forms during this time of loss.  I pray that you never know the pain that we are enduring and never take for granted the time that you have with those that you love.  Call them, text them, write them, hug them, laugh with them, share with them, teach them, learn from them, smile with them, cry with them, share with them, eat with them, chill with them, listen to them, take pictures with them, and most of all love them and tell them that you love them.  I know I did all those things and more with my son and I am ever so grateful for each and every moment that I shared with him during his way too short life.

Now is the time where you ask:  Do you ever ask why this had to happen?  Yes, sometimes I ask - why?  I don't like it.  You don't like it, and so we are just stuck with it.