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Jean Yoder Obituary
August 5, 1941 - January 7, 2025
Hickory native, Jean Carmen Yoder, 83, passed away on January 7, 2025. Born August 5, 1941, to Richard Enloe and Doris Councill Yoder, she was the granddaughter of William T. and Doris Hutton Councill of Hickory and Enloe and Hettie Yoder of the Blackburn Community in Catawba County. She is survived by her sister, Mary Gurley, of Idaho Falls, ID; nieces, Cynthia Gurley, of Chicago, IL, Pamela O'Connor of Big Sky, MT; nephew, Brian Gurley, of Dallas, TX; and half-sister, Kathleen Yoder Rotert, of Dallas, TX; and niece, Elizabeth Rotert.
Jean graduated with Hickory High School's iconic class of 1959, after which she attended Mars Hill College prior to transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received a Bachelors Degree in Journalism in 1963. After graduation, Jean moved to New York City where she held a number of positions with various publishers including Scribner Publishing and then with the College Board.
Upon Jean's return to Hickory she was employed as the Chief Communications Officer for Hickory Public Schools prior to her retirement. Jean was very involved in Hickory's second All American Cities Application in 2007 as well as the Hickory Public Schools Centennial Celebration Committee.
A celebration of Jean's life will be held at Bass-Smith Funeral Home at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025. The family will receive visitors an hour prior to the service.
Jean's service will be livestreamed on www.bass-smithfuneralhome.com.
Memories and Condolences
for Jean Yoder
Sponsored by Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory - Hickory.
2 Entries
Nancy lane cadora
June 16, 2025
Jean was my roommate at Mars Hill. I was saddened to learn of her passing. I was happy to see she pursued a career in journalism.
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Harry Tocce, San Jose, CA., UNC '63
January 30, 2025
Jean and I were classmates at UNC's School of Journalism. I enjoyed our friendship. Jean received scholar honors at UNC. Sorry to learn of her passing. Condolences to family and friends.
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Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory - Hickory334 2nd Street NW, Hickory, NC 28601
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