Charles C. Yost III

1942 - 2025

Charles C. Yost, III
08/11/1942 - 12/24/2025
Charles (Chuck) Clifford Yost III, age 83, of Magnolia, Texas, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, surrounded by family.
Chuck, also known as "Char" or "Charley" to his parents, brother, and sisters, was born on August 11, 1942, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Charles Clifford Yost, Jr. and Louise Virginia (Crum) Yost. Though he was raised primarily in Des Moines, he spent a significant portion of his childhood in Regensburg, Germany, where his father served as a glider pilot in the Army Air Corps.
Chuck graduated from Valley High School in West Des Moines and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University, followed later by a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Wyoming.
Upon graduation from Iowa State, Chuck married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Mary Penelope Grant, and the two of them went on to have five children. They built a life they loved that began in Borger, Texas, and continued to Elkhart, Kansas, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, back to Cheyenne, then on to Houston, Texas, in 1980. They have resided in the Houston area ever since, ultimately settling in Magnolia, Texas, after Chuck's retirement.
Chuck's early professional career was spent primarily as a Chemical Engineer with Phillips 66 in Borger, Texas, and Wycon Chemical in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Then in 1983, Chuck and his business partner, Bob DiNapoli, founded Merlin Associates, an engineering consulting firm serving the financing community for LNG base-load grassroots installations and LNG expansions built since that time. In 2013, after more than 30 years, Chuck officially merged Merlin Associates with Poten & Partners' LNG Engineering and Technical Due Diligence Group and retired at age 70.
He also served actively in his church community over the years as an Instituted Acolyte, Sacristan, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and as a Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. He even served as the Knights of Columbus Grand Knight in the St. Edward's Assembly, carrying on the Yost family tradition spanning more than 100 years.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Charles (Chuck) Clifford Yost, Jr. and Louise Virginia (Crum) Yost, as well as his siblings, sister Rebecca Louise Yost and brother Timothy Andrew Yost, who both passed away as young children.
He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Mary Penelope (Penny) Yost; daughter Theresa (Terri) Montgomery and husband Steve of Katy, Texas, and their children Ashley Sidoti and husband Paul, Cassandra (Cassie) Schotanus and husband Alex, Brandon Montgomery and wife Brianna, Jake Montgomery and wife Alexis, and Rebecca Chachere and husband Sean; son Charles (Charlie) Yost and wife Julia of Mansfield, Texas, and their children Alex, Cydney, Toby, and Abbey; son Michael (Mike) Yost and wife Jenna Birmingham of Roanoke, Texas, and their children Victoria Sheward, Carter Yost, Michael Holinsworth, and Jace Nelson; daughter Katherine (Kathi) Yost and wife Monette Hurtt of Magnolia, Texas, and their son Brett Macallister; son Andrew (Andy) Yost and wife Amanda of Nebraska, and their children Leah, Fox, Winter, and River; his brother Ted Yost and wife Pat; sisters Bette Morrie and husband Jim, Marianne Mahoney and husband Patrick, Ruth Owens and husband Bob, Julianne Yost and husband Jon Parrott, Beth Johnson and husband Russ, Rebecca Perry and husband Joe, and Susanne Michels-Roedern; aunt Joanne Yost-Emery and husband Bryan; and brother-in-law Hank Grant, along with many beloved great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.
Chuck was a devoted husband, father, son, and brother who always prioritized family. His greatest joy came from time spent with Penny, their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his siblings. He taught his children to be strong, driven, strategic, and competitive-never letting them win a game without earning it. He instilled a strong work ethic, a heart for serving others, the importance of doing what is right, and the belief that family is everything. Most importantly, Chuck and Penny taught their children to love God, to trust in Jesus, and to remain actively involved in the Church.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, from 5:00–8:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m., at Klein Funeral Home, 14711 FM 1488, Magnolia, Texas 77355. The Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at St. Matthias Catholic Church, 302 Magnolia Boulevard, Magnolia, Texas 77355, followed by a graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Chuck's honor to St. Matthias Catholic Church, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, or the Alzheimer's Association.
Chuck will be deeply missed and forever loved. Our hope is in Jesus, and our comfort comes from Him. We rejoice knowing that Chuck is in Heaven with his Lord and Savior-fully healed and whole-and saving us a seat at the table!