Louis R. Yess, 78, of Highland, New York passed away on Friday, September 4, 2020 in his home, surrounded by his loving family.
Born December 11, 1941 in Poughkeepsie, New York, he was the son of the late Louis J. Yess and Viola Dorothy (Whitman) Yess.
On August 8, 1965 in Hyde Park, New York, Lou married the love of his life, Joyce Dowling. They had 55 years together before his passing.
He proudly served his country in the Navy, from 1960 to 1964.
Lou was self-employed, owning Yess Excavation and working all over Ulster County and New York State from 1971 until his retirement in 2007.
Lou had a great love for nature. His unique personality drew him to the outdoors, whether it was picking up sticks in the yard, milling wood or digging dirt. Towards the end, he found solace in simplifying life by building bluebird houses. A statement that represents Lou is “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” – Henry David Thoreau
Lou passed from an aggressive form of bladder cancer, which he battled since January of 2019. He was a family man, an amazing friend and he touched many. He will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Yess; his two sons, Louis J. Yess of Highland, NY and Russell Yess and his wife, Jennifer of Highland, NY; his grandchildren, Cassidy, Elena, Arianna, Sophia, Eliza, Liam and Shane; his sister, Vivian Wadlin and her husband, John of Highland, NY.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his daughter, Kimberly Yess.
A Memorial Gathering in Lou’s honor will be held at a future date, as yet to be determined by his family.
If interested in making a donation, Hospice is a wonderful organization and helped Lou tremendously through the end of his life.
Copeland-Hammerl is honored to assist Lou’s family with the arrangements.
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