Carole Bland Yust

Carole Bland Yust, 92, died peacefully on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at NHC in Oak Ridge. Born in Gadsden, Alabama during the Great Depression, Carole’s family moved frequently around the state, finally settling in Florence, where she graduated from Coffee High School. Carole played the saxophone in her high school band, an activity that evolved into a lifelong love of music. After completing studies in Home Economics at Florence State Teacher’s College, now the University of North Alabama, she married Charles Simon Yust in 1955 and they moved to Oak Ridge.

Carole was active in the YWCA for many years, where she both taught sewing and cooking classes and later developed classes on a wide variety of topics. She was also active in the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association (ORCMA) Women’s Guild and helped plan many wine and cheese fundraising events for ORCMA, doing yeoman's work making hundreds of cocktail meatballs and other hors d’oeuvres. She was an accomplished homemaker and hostess, frequently entertaining musicians and audience members after chamber music and other concerts. She always provided a generous and delicious spread of food and drink, enough to bend the table legs, certain the musicians would be hungry after the exertions of performing. She relished attending performances in Oak Ridge and Knoxville, including the Metropolitan Opera Simulcasts at the local movie theater, concerts, plays, and movies. She especially enjoyed local handicrafts and artwork, regularly attending the Foothills Craft Guild exhibitions where she eagerly admired the work of her favorite artists and craftspeople. She was a skilled seamstress whose creations included everything from tiny, gorgeous doll clothes to tailored suits and recital dresses to curtains and furnishings for the home she and Charlie had built. Carole was a member for many years at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Ridge, where she was active on various committees and served in several different roles. In recent years she was an active member of the Stone Soup and rummage sale committees. She had a wicked sense of humor and a spicy, colorful vocabulary. Nobody who knew Carole was ever in doubt about her opinions!

Carole was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, parents Clara “Gladys” (Jackson) and John M. Bland, brother William “Bill” Bland (Susan) and Bill’s twin (at birth) Robert Bland.

She is survived by her children John Yust (Linda Dicus), Laura Yust, and Carla Bouvy (Chuck); brother John “Buddy” Bland (the late Betty Chapman Bland); grandchildren Julia Mann, John Wesley Springer (Alyx Henry), Lennon Springer, Cassady Yust, Christiana Bouvy, and Dan Bouvy; great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.

The family wishes especially to thank the caregivers at Amada Senior Care for helping her to remain in her home; and the staff at UT Medical Center, UT Hospice, and NHC in Oak Ridge for caring for her in her final days. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

Mott-McKamey Funeral Home and Cremations is assisting the Yust family.