Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Yerby, John Lawler "Pat" November 3, 2024 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 November 1, 2025, 2:04 pm HD Oliver FA November 2024 John Lawler "Pat" Yerby – a/k/a "Handsome" – formerly of Norfolk, died on November 3, 2024, at the age of 80. He was the son of the late Charles Maynard Yerby, Jr. and Mabel Lawler Yerby. He was predeceased by two of his three siblings: his brother, Charles "Chic" Yerby, and sister, Nancy Yerby Inman. Pat is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Sue Kessler Yerby, his two sons, Patrick (Jody) and Ryan (Charlyn), his three grandchildren, Anthony, Avery, and John, and his sister, Judy Burke (Ed). Pat spent most of his childhood in Ghent, on Graydon Avenue and W. Princess Anne Road. He was a dedicated paper boy, an on-call altar boy (living a block away from Sacred Heart Church), and he and Chic were top dogs in the gang of kids who had secret clubhouses, baseball games, and wrestling matches outside their apartments in Graydon Park. Their movie-going exploits at the Visulite Theatre Saturday matinees were legendary according to Pat—whose stories of adventures never got old, no matter how many times told. After graduating from Maury High School, Pat enrolled at Old Dominion University in 1962. Working full time while attending class part time, Pat was in no hurry to get his degree. Nor did Pat allow academics to interfere with his being the life of the party. (He later dubbed this period his "Decade of Delight.") Pat's priorities were wiser than one might think as they led him to meet Sue on a winter night in 1968, at an ODU watering hole, the King's Head Inn. Pat and Sue married in 1970. With Sue's "encouragement," Pat graduated from ODU two years later, becoming the first member of his family to get his degree. The births of Patrick and Ryan followed. Pat wanted to his first born to have both his legal name and his nickname but compromised with Sue on "John Patrick." As explained by Pat, his name choice for his second son was "Peevine Wendell." Luckily for Ryan, Sue put a damper on that one too. Pat was a master storyteller and a charmer — he collected friends from every period of his life who still hold him dear and he them. He was loved and respected by his colleagues at Nissan Motor Corporation, and his career took off, leading to promotions and relocations around the country. He spent the last few years of his career at Gulf States Toyota. As a father, he provided an example that family meant everything. Having a sense of humor and a zeal for fun were not far behind. The Yerby home featured frequent wrestling matches pitting a tag team of Patrick and Ryan versus "Sergeant Daddy," who would enter the ring (living room) wearing long johns, boots, a cowboy hat, and Sue’s bathrobe. Sergeant Daddy relished his role as the villain, resorting to underhanded tactics while the referee wasn’t looking. But his boys would inevitably prevail. Pat found solace in his family and friends during his most difficult time. In 1992, his mother died from cancer. This deeply affected Pat and magnified the importance to him of his church, which allowed him to maintain connection with his mother. When Pat's first grandchild, Anthony, was born, Pat selected "Handsome" to be his grandfather name, and it became his name to all who knew him. No one held it against Handsome that he was, in fact, handsome. After retiring from the car business, Pat and Sue returned to Norfolk in 2007. Pat's sister, Nancy, was then diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. From that point on, Pat was a constant presence with Nancy. When Nancy entered the memory care unit at the Ballentine, Pat visited her daily until her passing in 2021. In 2023, Pat began exhibiting memory issues and, like Nancy, was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Though the disease was taking its toll, he retained his positive outlook and sense of humor – still everyone's beloved "Handsome." Sue kept him in one piece, scheduling doctor's appointments, managing medications, and reminding Pat of the things his disease sought to obscure. On Pat's final day, he went for a walk with his family. He collapsed and lost consciousness instantly, though he maintained vital signs for the next several hours. The moment the priest finished administering the Last Rites in the hospital, his heart stopped beating and he passed away. Facing the unavoidable path he had traveled with his sister; Pat died the same way he lived - with kindness and concern for all around him. A service celebrating Pat's life will be held at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, 1501 Colonial Ave., Norfolk, on January 18, 2025, at 2:00PM. A reception at the Norfolk Yacht & Country Club will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Southeastern Virginia Chapter or to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital with all our thanks. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/obits/y/yerby17662nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/vafiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb