Pauline B. Yearsley
April 7, 1923 - March 9, 2024
Pauline B. Yearsley, age 100, of New Castle, DE, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
Born in Beckley, WV on April 7, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Lora Blankenship. At the time of Pauline’s high school graduation young ladies were being recruited to come north to work in positions left vacant by men going off to the war. Pauline and her sisters Eileen and Margaret moved to Delaware to answer that call. Pauline met and married her beloved husband Clifton Yearsley soon after. They were married for 62 years. Pauline was a devoted, loving and supportive daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a loyal friend to many.
Pauline lived life to the fullest for all of her 100 years. She lived alone after losing her husband in 2005 until she moved to her daughter and son-in-law’s home about a week before passing. Pauline was always busy, always had a plan for the day. She loved gardening and taking care of her beautiful home. Most of all she enjoyed time with family. Pauline loved God with all of her heart, soul and mind.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Clifton Yearsley, Pauline was preceded in death by her daughter, Sandra Elliott; sisters and best friends, Eileen Blankenship and Margaret Broce (Blankenship); brother, Ross Blankenship; brother-in-law, Allen Yearsley; sister-in-law, Norma VanBuren; Betty and Clyde, Pauline’s siblings that passed as young children; and many other loved ones.
Pauline is survived by her brother, Bill Blankenship; sister-in-law, Evon Yearsley; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Steve Dempsey; grandchildren, Keith Elliott (Angie), Stephanie Archuleta, and Josh Dempsey (Ciera); great-grandchildren, Chloe Elliott, Madison Elliott, Austin Argoe, Brianna Warwood, Adrianna Girotti and Santana Archuleta; and many beloved family and friends.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 North DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a celebration of life service will begin at 11 am. All are welcome to the interment that will immediately follow at Hickory Grove Cemetery, 428 Port Penn Rd., Middletown, DE.
Any family members or friends who were unable to attend Pauline’s service can watch a recording of the service by clicking here.
Helene Santiago
To Debbie and Steve and Family,
Your Sweet Mom, Pauline has lived a beautiful life and gifted to us a legacy of her beautiful family! May Our Father in heaven give you His peace as you walk through this journey.
Love in Christ,
Helene and Family
Donna Clark
What a beautiful soul the earth has lost after 100 years! My deepest condolences to the entire family, especially my dear friend Debbie. To me, Mrs. Yearsley, (always called her that) reminded me of a petite southern belle who stood tall and dignified. What faith and kindness she had! I am so glad she liked that 100th birthday blanket! I will truly miss her Christmas cards, too. Mrs. Yearsley, fly free into eternity and the heaven above us. You certainly deserve it!
Mary (Tibbett) Casper
Mrs Yearsley was always such a warm, gentle lady and a great neighbor to our family for many years. We send condolences to Debbie and all of her family and friends. May God bless her and welcome her home with loving arms.
Andrew Rokita
I am sorry for your loss. To my godmother Debbie and family I can only hope that your mom is now in God’s hands and she is always watching over us.
“It is of some comfort that the turn is not very distant in which we are to deposit our sorrows and to ascend to an ecstatic meeting with the friends we have loved and lost, and whom we shall still love, and never lose again. God support you and to your heavy affliction.”- Thomas Jefferson in a letter to John Adams.
Vickie Jones Snyder
Debbie it was a pleasure to finally meet you, even if under sad circumstances.
Pauline has always been one of the sweetest, kindest women I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for well over 50 years.
We met when I went to work for WT Grants.
Almost 53 yrs ago Pauline and all of the other women working at WT Grants were invited to my wedding in 1971. They told Mr McGuire that they all needed to go to my wedding because they were all my #Aunts from Grants”! He allowed all of the women who dubbed themselves My #Aunts from Grants” to take their lunch hour together to attend. We all built such a bond and friendship back then( Many of my “Aunts from Grants” have past on sometime ago), that bond and friendship has spand over 50 years.
May Pauline Rest in Heaven. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Vickie Jones Snyder