Roll Call Tribute

John Murrie Yantis
August 21, 1931 - January 28, 2023

John Yantis went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at the age of 91. He lived a life marked by family and friends, hard-work, integrity, generosity, and Aggie Football.

John Murrie Yantis was born on August 21, 1931, in San Antonio, TX to Jonathan May (Buster) and Mary Katherine (Petey) Murrie Yantis, and he had one younger brother, Frank Wofford (Woffy) Yantis.

A lifelong San Antonian, John attended Mark Twain Jr. High School where he met his future wife, Patsy Ruth Cotton Yantis. He had an incredible work ethic and always worked extremely hard to provide for his family and to be able to give to others. When he was twelve, he started working two jobs: as a soda jerk at Olmos Park Pharmacy and the San Pedro skating rink where the GIs took their dates. He scooted along the floor on his knees to help them buckle their skates, hoping for tips. His hard work paid off and he bought his first car at 14 years old.

John and Patsy attended Jefferson High School, where he was on the football team and played in a band made up of friends, The Melody Mustangs, that recorded a record. The experiences and friendships he made during high school provided many great memories that he cherished, as well as made great stories that he repeated over the years.

Patsy and John married in 1952 and were sweethearts and best friends for 65 years. John was a devoted and loving husband and provider. Together they traveled the world, weathered life’s storms, and raised four children: Mike (Patty), Tom (Susan), Nancy Yantis Austin (Hank), and Susan Yantis. He was Grandpa to Michael Yantis (Colleen), Blake Yantis (Jen), Matt Yantis (Jennifer), Whitney Yantis Boyd (Geoff), Lindsey Yantis Friesen (John), Taylor Austin (Laura), and Hailey Austin, and Great Grandpa to Lily, Thea, and Gracie Yantis, Fisher and Sosie Boyd, John and Elizabeth Yantis, Madison, Sawyer, and Jackson Yantis, and Lila, Jack, and James Friesen. John also had nephews Chris (Debbie) Cooley, Craig (Diana) Cooley, and Steven Yantis.

John worked his way through college and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. His dad died when he was a sophomore at A&M, so he went home to San Antonio to be present for his mom and to help support her financially by working 40 hours a week at the Post Office, while also taking classes at St. Mary’s University. After graduating from A&M in 1953, he was hired by Zachry Company while he waited for orders from the military. Shortly after, the army sent him to Ft. Sill, OK to be a base engineer. After a two year commitment, he went to work for Contractors Machinery selling equipment.

In 1965, John founded Yantis Company, which grew from a small operation to a large, award-winning company focused on strength of character, success, and kindness. His hard work, integrity, and perseverance led him to earn the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1988 from Ernst and Young. Yantis Company was also recognized by Texas A&M’s Mays Business School as one of the fastest growing Aggie-owned companies in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Throughout the years, John was active in the community and gave his time and energy towards many different endeavors. He supported Habitat for Humanity and was as an usher at University United Methodist Church for many years. He was the Alamo Bowl Chairman in 2007 and ironically got to see his Aggies play in that bowl game that year. He was Oak Hills Country Club President for two terms and was inducted into their Hall of Honor. John also was a member of The Argyle Club and loved gathering there with friends and family to celebrate many of life’s joys together.

John lived largely and loudly and never turned down a chance to have a good time or a good margarita. One of his favorite things was dinners at El Jarro with family and friends; many times having a table of 20 or more people and four generations of family in attendance. Birthdays were celebrated, jokes were constantly being told, and so many precious memories were made. He was always active and was an avid and talented golfer; he even played both left and right-handed because left-handed clubs were too expensive to buy as a young boy. This love of golf led to countless days spent on the golf course playing the sport he loved and getting to share it with his loved ones.

John also had a lifelong love of football, specifically, Aggie Football. He was the biggest fan, was always optimistic for his beloved team, and was not afraid to give his opinions on what needed to be done in terms of coach and players to be played. John loved gathering with loved ones and friends at Kyle Field to yell for his Aggies and he continued to stand for most of the games in Aggieland up until he was 90 years old.

His love of Texas A&M, and the value he associated with receiving an Aggie education, was seen in the many ways he gave back to the University and its students. John created an endowed 12th Man Scholarship Fund, an endowed Outside Linebacker Position Scholarship, and a Regent’s Scholar Student Assistance Fund. He was a devoted Aggie, and in 2017 received A&M's highest distinction among former students when he was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by the Association of Former Students. He was inducted into the A&M Letterman's Association Hall of Honor and was awarded the San Antonio A&M Club Polly Krueger Award. He believed in the value of education from what it gave to his life, and we are continuing to find out about many students he supported through college. He was humble and generous and didn’t need the spotlight to showcase how he helped others.

We have so much love and appreciation for Bertha Zapata, for over 50 years of devoted care to the Yantis family. Words cannot express what Becky Villela did for both John and Patsy for thirteen years. Her famous “You- who” when she entered their home brought instant joy, delight, and anticipation. Angelita De La Cerda was dedicated to helping Patsy and John and was also their Household Manager for six years. Lastly, Angie Smith stepped in to fill a much-needed care-giver spot and was a wonderful companion for John. The family extends deep gratitude for the outstanding care, compassion, and comfort those at University Hospital and Vitas Hospice provided.

John accomplished many great things but was so deeply loved and cherished because of his huge heart for others, his integrity in every facet of life, his goofy and witty sense of humor, and his large, joy-filled laugh and smile. He loved deeply, laughed loudly and often, and jumped in to help when he saw people in need. He was so humble and gave without recognition, and we are still learning about other ways he loved, valued, and championed others so well. He was a man of his word who honored his commitments and spent his life serving and caring for those around him. He never met a stranger, was loved by everyone he met, and will be missed by so many people who are extremely grateful we had him in our lives for so long.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Mission Park Funeral Chapels Medical Center 8332 Fredericksburg Rd. 78229 www.missionparks.com.  Come as you are. 

Come celebrate John Yantis’s life with us on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 1:00 p.m. at University United Methodist Church at 5084 De Zavala Rd.

Please join us in wearing Aggie Maroon or sporting bright clothes to celebrate a man who exuded joy and loved his Aggies!

Donations can be made to:

12th Man Foundation
Texas A&M University
P.O. Box 2800
College Station, TX 77841-2800
https://12thmanfoundation.evenue.net/www/ev_tamu/ss/ev/DonationEntry?donationCd=MEMG&siteId=ev_tamu&locale=en_US&linkID=tamu 
Or
San Antonio Food Bank, 5200 Enrique M. Barrera Pkwy, SA 78227 info@safoodbank.org.