Edward K. Yager

CONSTABLEVILLE - Edward K. Yager, 79, husband of Christine, longtime resident of Zimmer Road, passed away on Monday, December 16, 2024 at Lewis County Health System, Lowville.

Edward Karl Yager, a son of John and Iola Fassett Yager, was born in Hawkinsville, NY, on January 8, 1945. He was the eighth of nine siblings. Ed attended Hawkinsville School and then Boonville School. Ed and Christine Adele Cushman were married at the Hawkinsville Methodist Church on September 18, 1965.

Ed was a lifelong resident of the Boonville area, living on Miller's Woods Road in Boonville until June of 1981, and then living on Zimmer Road in Constableville.

Ed worked at the stone quarry in Boonville, currently Barrett Paving Materials, for 15 years during which time he and Chris built up a small dairy farm. In 1981, he went to dairy farming full-time on Zimmer Rd in Constableville. In 1988, Ed went to work at Rome Cable Corp working there while also running the farm with Chris. Ed retired from Rome Cable in 1996 and retired from farming in 2004.

Ed was a self-reliant do-it-your-selfer, a lifelong tinkerer, an avid auction buyer. He rebuilt carburetors, engines, transmissions, hay baylers, corn choppers and buildings. He burned about 100 lbs. of welding rod on bucket loader arms, buckets and blades. He built a "Doodle Bug," which was a snow plowing truck modified in strategic ways. The blade on the doodlebug was homemade, and there was a 1-ton block of concrete bolted to the back to add weight for extra traction. Ed plowed about 20 driveways.

He would buy an old engine, or a tractor, or some machine, and bring it home to figure out how it worked and enjoy just getting it running. Ed found it hard to resist a really good bargain. No load of bricks was too heavy if they could be bought for $5.

Dad once bought a D6 caterpillar crawler for $500. Though the crawler never ran, it was well worth its cost just in entertainment value alone. For about two years the D6 was greatly appreciated by visiting friends and family who would come out to the yard, and put their foot up on the wheel of the trailer the D6 was on, and talk about how one might go about fixing it. Later he sold that crawler for $1,000 having never even taken it off the trailer he borrowed to bring it home.

Ed liked hunting white-tailed deer. He was a member of the Adirondack Muzzleloaders, and a life member the Boonville Rod and Gun Club. He was a generous and joyful supporter of various local organizations and charities.

Ed is survived by his loving wife Christine; sons Jordan (Deborah) Yager, Stafford, NY, and Kevin Yager, Marion, NY; daughters, Karin (Christopher) Butler, Albuquerque, NM, and Jeanette (William) Dibble, Rome, grandchildren, Samantha (Timothy Bartz) Yager, Benjamin (Jamie) Yager, Nicholas (Lauren) Yager, Connor Butler, and Kylan Butler; and great-granddaughters, Zoey and Henrietta Yager. He is also survived by sisters, Sarah Johnson and Emma Buffett, several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his siblings: Luella Vollmar, Jacqueline Saterlee, Ida LaVerne, Gordon, John Frederick, and Stanley James Yager.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In keeping with Ed's wishes, there will be no calling hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Constableville Volunteer Fire Dept. Ambulance Fund, PO Box 438, Constableville, NY 13325.

His arrangements are in care of Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler St., Boonville, where online messages of sympathy may be made at www.trainorfuneralhome.com.