Alfred Joseph “A.J.” Yard, Jr., 86, of Winnie, formerly of Crystal Beach, died Saturday, February 25, 2012, at Regency Village in Webster.
A native and lifelong resident of the Beaumont area, A.J. was born October 11, 1925, to Ophelia Lebeau Yard and Alfred Joseph Yard, Sr. He was a retired Master Sergeant with the United States Air Force having served in North Africa. After his retirement, A.J. began a career with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, now known as Christus Health Systems. Over the years, he coordinated all maintenance within the system.
A.J. and Margaret spent a great amount of time at Crystal Beach fixing up the cabin, shrimping, and enjoyed traveling around the country.
Survivors include his daughter, Patsy Yard of Mason, Michigan; sons, Don Yard and Sherry of Kemah and Alfred Yard III and his wife, Annalee of Shreveport, Louisiana; grandchildren, Brent Yard, Donovan Yard, Elayne Glantzberg, Hughes Jack Glantzberg, Heather Chamberlin and Gary Greene; great-grandchildren, Kassaundra Greene, Brenden Hunt, Tammara Hunt, Caitlin Hunt, Liam Hunt, Jarod Hunt and Kender Hunt; and former daughter-in-law, Donna Santos and her husband, Dave of Granbury.
He is preceded in death by his wife of fifty-nine years, Margaret “Kitty” Yard.
A gathering of his family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 1, 2012, at Broussard’s, with interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery with full Military Honors provided by the United States Air Force.
Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled Veterans of America, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, Kentucky 41076 or to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 841125, Dallas, Texas 75284.
