Shut Up and Listen
Ed Yager Conducting the Michigan Mormon Concert Choir on Tour
I’ve been a little slow recently updating my posts. I have been a little busy with family issues and some work-travel, I lost a bit of control of my personal organization, but I’m getting back to normal. My father passed away in early May and my schedule has been a little weird ever since. I did want to share here a little about his life. Below is the obituary that I was asked by my sisters to write for him. I’m sure there will be more thoughts and writings coming in the future. He is in a much better place, and while unexpected, in the long run this was probably the best outcome that could have happened. Alzheimer's is a tough one to life with.
Ed Yager loved many things in life, but anyone who knew him knew his real passions were his faith, his wife, his family, and music.
Yes, he accomplished many things in life, but it is impossible to understand him without understanding his great love for family and music. Ed didn’t just work hard to provide for his family and give them a life anyone would envy, he also worked incredibly hard to ensure his family saw the world; that they appreciated the beauty all around them; that they knew it was okay to cry over that beauty; that they knew how incredible music can be; and most importantly, that they loved each other. He used his profession as a means to travel, share, and grow with his family.
There are two phrases his children, and all his friends, heard repeatedly. The first and most common was, “shut up and listen”. That may sound harsh, but it was done with the greatest of love as he said, and in some cases shouted, that phrase at his children and grandchildren to teach them to see and hear the beauty of the world and to appreciate great art and music. His six children were naturally very loud—especially when together—and Ed often used this phrase to turn their attention to the beauty of the music or nature that they were missing. His children and their friends listened to him turn the volume of his records as loud as they would go, inviting them to appreciate the details, the performances, the beauty, and even the technology. He would take them to watch drum and bugle corps performances so they could “feel” the sound in their bodies and hearts. He taught them to notice the smallest things that needed work to perceive. Ed took his family to Broadway plays, symphonies, and concerts as well as the most beautiful places in the world and taught them to listen, look and say “ooh” and “aah” as often as possible. A legacy that has continued to the next generations.
His second most quoted phrase is, “blue is the most expensive color.” Ed made a point to say this at every firework display he ever attended, much to the chagrin of his family. It was his way of sharing the beauty of the display with his family as he appreciated the work, creativity, and sacrifice put into the things that make life worth living. This phrase represents more to his family than fireworks—it reminds them of Ed’s love of life and his gratitude for sacrifices—and it has become a loving joke for four generations of Yagers.
Ed Yager was born on July 13th, 1938, in Detroit Michigan to parents William “Eddie” Yager and Ethel Yager. It was there his career and large family began. His beloved sister Ester, although older, greatly influenced Ed with her love of music, volunteer work and sacrifice.
He married his amazing wife Judy on June 14th, 1960 in the Logan Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Ed was a convert to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and it was at a youth stake activity in 1959 where he met Judy. Judy attended BYU for a semester before returning to marry Ed. During that time away they would write long letters, sneak away to call each other on the telephone and stay in contact as best they could. They had 6 children (five girls and one boy) and countless pets (mostly dogs but a few other animals as well) who loved the life he and his wife provided for them.
Ed was active and faithful in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints throughout his adult life and served in many callings. He served as Bishop in the Detroit 1st ward of the Bloomfield Hills stake in the late 1970’s (now known as the Southfield Ward). His work in that calling affected many people who still reach out to the family with love decades later. His work with youth, wards, leaders, and on Temple Square in Salt Lake City could never be quantified. The effect he had on those he served will live on for generations.
Ed began his professional career at Hudson’s department store in the camera department. He quickly became a manager before his career shifted to the Ford Motor Company. He later started his own companies. Those grew and became known as Yager Leadership. He worked with many Fortune 500 companies around the world helping grow their business, leadership, and effectiveness. He taught business and leadership courses at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Brigham Young University, Weber State, and Salt Lake Community College. In 1980 Ed and Judy moved their company (and household) west from Detroit to Park City, UT. His work and service continued there for decades to follow.
During Ed’s life, he was never far from his love of music. He founded and conducted the Detroit Mormon Concert Choir, later to become the Michigan Mormon Concert Choir. The choir provided beloved concerts all over the state, recorded and produced multiple records, held charity concerts to save historic landmarks, traveled the country performing in many historic places and concert halls, and even represented the State of Michigan for the country’s bi-centennial celebrations in Washington, DC.
Ed was always involved in bettering the world around him in any way he could, making sure to include his family in these efforts. His service to the world could never all be listed here in full, but highlights include his work with the Special Olympics and his work to help improve the lives of those experiencing poverty in Detroit’s inner-city. When the new show “Sesame Street” came out in in 1969 he desired that all children have access to the early childhood learning provided through the show. As he learned that many families in his city could not afford televisions he ran “TV drives” to help those in need in the Detroit area. He drove mobile swimming pools to parts of the city that did not have access, or were excluded from access, to pools so they could enjoy themselves and cool off in the summer months. He worked with school boards to help improve education, he organized and provided scholarships for students in need, and he volunteered for anything he could. That legacy continues through his family to this day.
Ed’s greatest legacy of his time here (and for eternity) is his family. It is large, growing, and very close. As his family continues to build on this most important legacy, they feel he would want all to be listed for bragging rights for his and Judy’s greatest accomplishment—currently 63 loving witnesses to the wonderful life he led.
Ed was survived by his wife, Judy (neé Hartmann), and six children: Juline (John) Lambert, Lori (Eddie) Cawley, Jon (Jamie) Yager, Suzanne (Kendall) Page, Carol (Jim) Theurer, and Karen (Tracy) Timothy.
He also has 20 grandchildren. He was predeceased by Alyssa (Collin) McClellan. He is survived by: Josiah (Elle McNamara) Lambert, Chase (Devyn) Lambert, Nichelle (Mike) Fiske, Shaylin Cawley, Ashley (Josh) Scott, Josh Cawley, Amanda (Cody) Klein, Kiel (Emily) Yager, Tree Yager, Samantha Yager, Whitney (Troy) Butterfield, Caitlyn (Bryce) Whiteley, Courtney (Ryan) Crockett, Jacob (Haylie) Theurer, Annie Theurer, Ben Theurer, Jenny Theurer, McKayla (Keegan) Wright, and Trey Timothy.
Ed was also survived by 19 great grandchildren: Indra Lambert, Riley McClellan, Jackson McClellan, Blake McClellan, Boston McClellan, Tennyson Fiske, Maggie Fiske, Bridget Fiske, Story Fiske, Summer Cawley, Llewyn Yager, Taron Yager, Emrys Yager, Ethan Butterfield, Hudson Butterfield, Addison Butterfield, Paige Crockett, Charley Crockett, Emery Wright.
Ed was predeceased by his parents William Edwin Yager and Myrtle “Ethel” Veronica Yager (née Harland) and his sister Ester Yager.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 12:00 noon at the North Shore 1st Ward Chapel, 4484 Willoughby Drive, South Jordan, Utah, with a viewing from 11:00 – 11:45 am prior to the service. Interment at Valley View Memorial Park. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com.
