Leslie Jerome Yauck

Leslie Jerome Yauck was born May 3, 1945, in Shattuck, OK, the second of three sons, to Henry F. and Ruth Elizabeth (Helfenbein) Yauck.  He left this earth on October 5, 2024 in Perryton, TX, having lived his entire life in Lipscomb County Texas. 

Les grew up in a farming/ranching family, 5.5 miles Southwest of Follett, TX.  At an early age, he grew accustomed to hopping on a horse and taking a fishing pole to some nearby pond every chance he got.  His love of horses and fishing continued throughout his life. 

After graduation from Follett High School in 1963, Leslie entered partnership with his dad and brothers as “Henry F. Yauck and Sons”, and later as “Yauck Brothers” until 1988.  He started harvesting grass seed, then building barbed-wire fences (usually as a “one-man crew”).  Hundreds of miles of fences, covering pastures in Lipscomb, as well as neighboring counties, stand as a testament to Les’ ingenuity and hard work.  He also raised cattle on his own.

Leslie worked side jobs while farming and ranching under the mentorship and tutelage of men whom he greatly admired such as Ed and Wes Bourquin, Dr. R.A. “Doc” Ivie, DVM, and Cecil Seaney.  But Les always enjoyed a good joke or prank and had lots of fun with slightly ‘ornery’ characters (much like himself) such as Spud Hawkins, Frankie McWhorter, and Dave Yauck, Jr.  Many friends told funny stories just to hear his unique and infectious laugh. 

From Leslie’s first marriage in 1964 to Coela Balch, he was blessed with his elder son, Leslie Craig Yauck, born in 1966.  In February 1976, (on Friday the 13th!), Leslie married Kelly Wynne Hare in Amarillo, TX.  To this union was born Jeremy Russell Yauck the following year. 

Leslie was raised and confirmed as a member of St. John’s Congregational Church, outside Follett, TX (just a few miles south of his family’s “Home Place”).  Les was baptized as a member of First Baptist Church, Follett, TX at the same time as “Number One Son” (following youth church camp Craig attended one summer). 

Leslie, Kelly, and Jeremy moved to Booker, TX in December 1989 (Craig had already graduated college and married by then).  This was only the third home Les had ever lived in!

Leslie was very proud of his ‘shop’ behind their Booker house.  He definitely had the gift of hospitality and delighted in entertaining whomever could stop by. 

Les was a member of the First Baptist Church, Booker.  He served turns on the kitchen and mowing committees and assisted on church workdays when possible. 

Leslie was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ruth Yauck, and a brother, Norman Henry Yauck.  He is survived by his wife Kelly of the home; two sons, Craig (wife Fawn) Yauck of Howardwick, TX, and Jeremy (wife Holly) Yauck of Granbury, TX; four grandchildren – Heidi (husband Ross) Morgan of Lakin, KS, Kymberleigh Wood, Joshua Yauck, and Audrey Yauck, all of Granbury, TX;  two great-grandchildren, Layla Morgan and Lane Morgan, both of Lakin, KS; and a brother, Marvin Fred Yauck of Pflugerville, TX.