Bishop Ezra Benjamin Yordy

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Education: Did Not Attend High School, But Attended Bethany Bible School In Chicago In His Teens And Attended Meetings At Moody When He Worked In Chicago.
• Occupation: Farmer/Minister
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1897, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Residence: 1908, Woodford Co., IL
• Baptism: 21 Oct 1908, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Residence: 1913, Chicago, Cook Co., IL
• Residence: 1914, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Residence: 1915, Eureka, Woodford Co., IL
• Ordained: 15 Jul 1917, Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL
• Ordained: 30 Aug 1925, Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Obit:
Yordy, Ezra B., son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Roeschley) Yordy, was born at Flanagan, Ill., Apr. 46, 1892; died at Mennonite Hospital, Bloomington, Ill., Nov. 9, 1980; aged 88 y. On Dec. 16, 1915, he was married to Carrie E. Good, who survives. Also surviving are one son (Maurice), 4 daughters (Ethel Troyer, Alta Graber, Dorothy Yordy, and Ruth Keller), 16 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and one brother (Jonas). He was preceded in death by one daughter (Florence-Mrs. Orval Schrock). He was ordained to the ministry in 1917 and served at the Roanoke Mennonite Church. He was a member of Roanoke Mennonite Church, where funeral services were held on Nov. 12, in charge of Norman Yutzy, Robert Harnish, Richard Yordy and Edwin Stalter; interment in the church cemetery.


Following are remarks made by Alvin Yordy at the Joseph Yordy Reunion, June 10, 1978:
"Ezra, the active, out-going member of the family gave many years of pastoral care to the Roanoke Mennonite Church, as well as leadership in his community and state. As a young man, he could run faster, jump higher, and shuck more corn than most anyone. He suffered a bad knee from the result of a runaway horse throwing him from his buggy. Later the leg had to be amputated. This never slowed him down. He continued to preach, farm, and travel. Not only is he remembered for his many services to mankind, but is also remembered as a great story teller and for his ability in 'witching' successful water wells. Many a thirsty person has drunk from a well 'witched' by Ezra. Much of his success was due to Carrie, his wife. She was a good manager, a hard worker, and a kind mother who gave rich guidance to her six children and many grandchildren. She also is remembered for her hospitality shown to many traveling ministers, neighbors, and relatives."


Written material follows from the Joseph Yordy family members:
Ezra B. Yordy 1892-1980 and Carrie Good Yordy
Ezra B. Yordy was ordained to the ministry July 15, 1917, after being selected by a vote of the Roanoke congregation. Bishop Andrew Schrock and C. F. Derstine officiated at the ordination. He was ordained bishop by the voice of the congregation on August 30, 1925. Bishops S. F. Coffman and C. F. Derstine officiated at the ordination. Ezra served the congregation until his retirement in 1957. His wife, Carrie, was a faithful servant of the church, and at his side during all these years of ministry.
It is interesting to note that both Ezra and Carrie were born in Livingston Co., IL During their early childhood years they both moved with their families to Champaign Co., IL. They worshipped at the East Bend Mennonite Church at Fisher, and were baptized by Bishop Peter Zehr of that congregation. Later, Ezra returned to Woodford Co. and lived on a farm south of Secor. As a young man he went to Chicago to study at Bethany Bible School. During this time he lived at the Mennonite Home Mission and became acquainted with city mission work under the guidance of A. H. Lehman, who was superintendent of the mission at the time. Bishop Lehman had a great influence on Ezra’s life and wanted to develop him into an urban missionary. The tug of country life was deeply ingrained in Ezra, so he returned to life on the farm. His family worshipped at the Roanoke congregation and Ezra became active in the Sunday school. It was this assignment and the experiences that accompanied it that eventually led him to be chosen as a minister in the church. His love for spirited horses and an accident involving a run-away team during this era eventually resulted in the loss of his right leg. It was obvious that this trauma had a profound impact on his physical involvement throughout the rest of his life.
Even though Ezra had left the Fisher area, he continued to nurture a friendship with Carrie Good. This led to their marriage on December 15, 1915, at the home of the bride’s parents, Peter and Mary Naffziger Good of Rantoul, IL. They were married by Bishop Peter Zehr of the East Bend congregation and they requested permission to have the Roeschley brothers male quartet, Ezra’s cousins from Waldo, at Flanagan, sing at their wedding. This was considered to be a real plus at the time, and they were also given permission to wear corsages for the wedding.
They first lived on a farm at the north edge of Eureka, just across from the present Maple Lawn Homes. Later, they moved to a farm several miles east of Eureka on 4-H Road--a farm that was owned by DeBolt Householter of the Roanoke congregation. From there they moved to their farm home south of Eureka and that is where they continued to live until their retirement. They raised their family of six children on this farm. There were five girls and one son. During this era Mennonite ministers provided for most of their livelihood, so Ezra’s disability meant that Carrie shouldered many of the farm activities involving care of the livestock during morning and evening chore times. The children were also called upon to share in these activities prior to leaving for school each day.
The Yordy home was often the place where visiting evangelists, missionaries, church workers, and others often found hospitality and rest. Ezra was a gregarious person and loved to share his stories and visit with others. Carrie was more reserved in nature and found her role of quietly serving others to be the one that she enjoyed. She was a loyal and faithful minister’s wife and carried her responsibilities with trust and dignity. Ezra and Carrie loved their family very much and supported them with quiet resolve. The years of the Great Depression in the early 1930s were not without trauma and it was during this time that Ezra had his right leg amputated as a result of the injury from the accident with horses during his teen years. Various members of the Roanoke congregation and the community provided assistance in numerous ways.
Ezra had many friends in the local community and developed a strong relationship with local pastors from other denominations in the Eureka area. He also enjoyed a close fellowship with other Illinois conference ministers as they worked together and often traveled to various church-wide meetings, such as state and national conferences of the Mennonite Church.
During his tenure at Roanoke, Ezra served the church in other ways outside the local congregation. He often ministered to the residents of Maple Lawn Homes and was a very close friend to J. D. Smith, the first superintendent. He served as a bishop in the oversight of several area churches and enjoyed working with other ministers in these assignments. When James and Rowena Lark were called to pastor the first black church in the Illinois conference in Chicago, he served as their bishop. This involved numerous trips to Chicago as the work developed in that city. During his ministry, Ezra did some traveling as an evangelist, served as the moderator of the Illinois Conference, and was president of the Illinois District Mission Board for ten years.
Ezra often quoted some lines written by Edgar A. Guest, that seemed to fit his outgoing personality. They are, “Let me live by the side of the road and be a friend to man.” In all of his experiences in life he shared his great love for people, his faithful devotion to the Mennonite Church, and his abiding faith in Jesus Christ.

Baptism:
East Bend Mennonite Church, by Peter Zehr

Residence:
Worked with Home Mission on 18th Street, the so-called “bloody ward” of the city.

Residence:
Taught Sunday school and romanced Carrie Good

Ordained:
Minister Roanoke Mennonite Church by Bishop Andrew Schrock and Minister C.F. Derstine

Ordained:
Ordained Bishop by S.F. Coffman and C.F. Derstine. He was later given oversight of Maple Lawn Home; the Goodfield congregation, the Cullom Mennonite Church; Ann Street, Sheffield; Rehoboth; and the Bethel church in Chicago. He made the rounds of these churches, conducting communion and marriages.

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery

Ezra married Carrie Edna Good on 16 Dec 1915 in East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL. Carrie (daughter of Peter Good and Mary A. Naffziger (Nofzinger)) was born on 2 Jan 1893 in Cornell, Livingston Co., IL; died on 24 Jan 1993 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Jan 1993 in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit: (Pantagraph.com)
EUREKA — Ethel Mae Troyer, 94, Eureka, passed away peacefully at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday (Aug. 3, 2011) at her residence.

Graveside burial rites will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery. A service will then follow at 11 a.m. Saturday at Roanoke Mennonite Church, with the Revs. Maurice Yordy, Robert Harnish and Frank Kandel officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in her name to Roanoke Mennonite Church.

She was born Feb. 16, 1917, in Eureka, the daughter of Ezra B. and Carrie E. Good Yordy. She married Robert E. Troyer on Dec. 1, 1939, in rural Eureka. He passed away on Feb. 13, 2005, in Eureka. Her parents and one sister, Florence Schrock, also preceded her in death.

Surviving are five daughters, Mary Ann (Paul) Watkins, Bloomington; Susan Troyer, Chicago; Betty (Randy) Rocke, Columbus, Ohio; Sally (William) Anderson, Eureka; and Alice Troyer, Palatine. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Cynthia (Christopher) Nelke, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Jonathan (Nancy Enderby) Watkins, Silver Spring, Md.; Kari Watkins, Parkston, Md.; and Carrie Anderson, Bloomington; and six great-grandchildren, Tyler, Alyssa and Isabelle Nelke; Lucy, Henry Ezra and Eleanor Watkins.

Also surviving are three sisters, Dorothy Yordy and Alta Graber, both of Eureka; and Ruth Keller, Fort Madison, Iowa, as well as two sisters-in-law, Ruth Schapmire, Normal, and Fern Rice, Watseka.

She and her husband were actively engaged in farming south of Eureka. Having attended Goshen College for two years, she then became a schoolteacher for many years, and later graduated from Eureka College in 1974 with a bachelor of science degree in education. Her love of children and education paved the way for a career in elementary education. She was a classroom teacher and continued to teach and inspire after her retirement. She was a very loving and gentle person who enjoyed music and had a song in her heart.

She was a member of Roanoke Mennonite Church. While spending winters in Florida following retirement, she and her husband attended Bayshore Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Fla.

Mason Funeral Home, Metamora Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. Notes of condolences may be sent to the family at www.masonfuneralhomes.com.

In the last years before retirement, owned and operated Alices Restaurant in Eureka.
{See Yordy file for autobiography

Birth:
Spring Hill Farm, 1/2 mile north of Eureka

Died:
At her home

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery

Ethel married Robert Emanuel Troyer on 1 Dec 1939 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL. Robert (son of Oliver Manasses Troyer and Kate Unzicker) was born on 8 Jun 1916 in Stanford, McLean Co., IL; died on 13 Feb 2005 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/obituaries/dorothy-yordy article_419c5b4a-60fb-11e2-ad9f-001a4bcf887a.html January 18, 2013 12:00 am
EUREKA — Dorothy M. Yordy, 94, Eureka, passed away at 11:06 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 16, 2013) at Advocate Eureka Hospital.
She was born Dec. 8, 1918, in Eureka, to Ezra and Carrie Good Yordy.
Surviving is one sister, Alta Graber, and one brother, Maurice (Patricia) Yordy, both of Eureka; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Ethel (Robert) Troyer, Florence (Orval) Schrock and Ruth (Robert) Keller; and brother-in-law, Chris Graber.
Dorothy graduated from Eureka High School. She was employed for more than 40 years as the secretary at the Woodford County Farm Bureau.
Dorothy had many interests, including her family, scrapbooking, photography, gardening, cooking and helping others. She was especially known for her cookies and pies at church functions at the Roanoke Mennonite Church where she was a member.
Her funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Maple Lawn Memorial Hall in Eureka. Brian Miller and Maurice Yordy will officiate. Burial will be in the Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Saturday at Memorial Hall. Argo-Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in Eureka is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Maple Lawn Health Center or the Roanoke Mennonite Church.

Notes:

Obit: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/obituaries/alta-m-graber/article_6abd1016-b8c6-5d15-9e23-46f6b7a10572.html#utm_source=pantagraph.com&utm_campaign=%2Femail-updates%2Fobits%2F&utm_medium=email&utm_content=1C135F18D6DC37D0D7799514DE524FB611D50220

Alta M. Graber, 96, of Normal, formerly of Eureka, passed away 12:59 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 21, 2017) at Heartland Health Care, Normal.

Alta was born Sept. 24, 1921, in Eureka, a daughter of Ezra B. and Carrie Good Yordy. She married Chris Graber on Feb. 21, 1941, in Eureka. He passed away Oct. 10, 2003.
Survivors include her children, Paul (Nancy) Graber, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Tom (Fran) Graber, Elkhart, Ind.; Rachel Noe-Casper, Pensacola, Fla.; Christine Troyer, Eureka; and Jeff (Michele) Graber, Normal; one brother, Maurice Yordy, Eureka; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and four sisters, Ethel, Dorothy, Florence, and Ruth.
Alta in her younger years worked for Libby’s in Eureka. She also was a loving homemaker and a secretary for various businesses.
She enjoyed in her spare time quilting and gardening.

Alta was a member of Roanoke Mennonite Church, where her funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Pastor Alice Kennell will officiate. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery. Argo-Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, Eureka, is handling arrangements for the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Roanoke Mennonite Church.

Died:
Heartland Health Care

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery

Alta married Christian Roth Graber on 21 Feb 1941 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL. Christian (son of Peter Graber and Marie Elizabeth Roth) was born on 14 Apr 1918 in Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 10 Oct 2003 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit:
Schrock, Florence M., daughter of Ezra and Carrie (Yordy) Schrock, was born at Eureka, Ill., Oct. 7, 1923; died at Goshen General Hospital, Dec. 26, 1977; aged 54 y. Surviving are her husband (Orval), one son (Sanford), and 3 daughters (Harriett - Mrs. Dennis Martin, Eleanor, and Denise). She was a member of the Wawasee Lakeside Chapel, Syracuse, Ind., where the funeral services were held on Dec. 28, in charge of Harlan Steffen and Victor Hildebrand; interment in Maple Grove Cemetery, Topeka, Ind.

Family/Spouse: Orval Schrock. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Surgical Medical Nurse, Palm Harbor Hospital, Garden Grove, CA
• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

Obit: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/obituaries/ruth-keller/article_4b57d6d8-7866-11e1-800f-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1qtKdFBNP

EUREKA — Ruth Mildred Keller, 85, Fort Madison, Iowa, formerly of Eureka, died at 10:25 p.m. Wednesday (March 21, 2012) at Fort Madison Health Center, Fort Madison, Iowa.
The body of Mrs. Keller has been cremated. A memorial service will be April 28, 2012, at Maple Lawn Chapel, Eureka. A memorial has been established for Habitat for Humanity, contributions may be made at the Barr Memorial Chapel. Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison, is in charge of arrangements.
She was born March 7, 1927, in Eureka, a daughter of Ezra B. and Carrie (Good) Yordy. On Dec. 25, 1950, she married Robert Wayne Keller at the home of her parents, a farmhouse in the Eureka area, officiated by her father, who was a Mennonite bishop and farmer. He preceded her in death in 1997.
Ruth was a medical surgical nurse at Palm Harbor Hospital, Garden Grove, Calif., retiring in 1993. She worked mostly with cancer and AIDS patients. In 1955 and 1956, she taught nursing at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital, Chicago. After retiring, she traveled with her husband, who did hospital surveys for the Joint Commission of Hospital Accreditation. She was raised Mennonite, attended the Presbyterian Church after 1958, and liked the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif. In 1997, she moved back to Eureka. She was a member of the Roanoke Mennonite Church, Roanoke.
She is survived by two sons, Dr. David Wenger-Keller, Fort Madison, Iowa; and Steven Keller, Carlsbad, Calif.; one brother, Maurice Yordy, Eureka; two sisters, Dorothy Yordy and Alta Graber, both of Eureka; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and two sisters, Florence Schrock and Ethel Troyer.
Online condolences to the Keller Family may be made at the Barr Memorial Chapel website,

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery

Ruth married Robert Wayne Keller on 28 Dec 1950. Robert (son of Emil Keller and Anna Roth) was born on 9 Aug 1926; died on 11 Apr 1997. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Maurice married Patricia Mae Harnish [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Director of Nursing at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Home.

Family/Spouse: Paul Watkins. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Randall Rocke. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: William Anderson. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Nancy Oesch. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Frances Stoller. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]