James Yabsley

James “Jim” Yabsley, 85, Gray, died Tuesday, November 19, 2019, at the Johnson City Medical Center, following a brief illness. Jim was a native of South Shields, England, and a son of the late James and Julia Greenwood Yabsley. He was reared in England, lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, before moving to the United States in 1989. At the age of five, during World War II, Jim was an evacuee of the bombing of England, where he lived with the Setchells family in Corwall, England, until he was able to be reunited with his family. He attended Yew Tree Secondary School, Outward Bound Sea School, then received Central, National and Higher National certificates, endorsements for the Institutes of Mechanical and Production Engineers, as well as Work Managers, receiving his degree in Engineering. Jim was a veteran of the Royal Air Force, serving from 1955-57 and achieving the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Upon honorable discharge from the service, he was a Manufacturing Executive in Multi-Plant operations and distributions worldwide, working as Director of Manufacturing early in his career while still in England, then Director of Manufacturing in Toronto, Director of Operations in Barrie, Ontario, Director of U.S. and International Manufacturing Services in Raliegh, NC, then finally Vice-President of Operations in St. Paul, MN. Jim was Past-President of the Canadian Council of the Institution of Production Engineers and a member of the Technical Advisory Council, Durham College, Canada. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife Agnes Collins Yabsley, in 2001. Those left to cherish Jim’s memory are his brother, George Yabsley and wife Nish, Toronto; nieces and nephews, Sheila Calhoun, husband Ken, and their children Jason & Cory, Whitby, Ontario, Canada, Barry Yabsley and Mike Gardner, Toronto, Richard Gibbons and wife Carol, Christchurch, England, Johnathan Gibbons, Athens, Greece, Nick Collins, wife Julie, and their children Lucy & Joe, Cheshire, England, Debbie Collins, Manchester, England, Karen Collins, Durham, England; adopted family, Jerry and Pam Love, Gray; and his longtime friend, Lynn Carter, Maine. The family would like to extend a very special thank you to In Home Care Services, especially Linda Gray, for her loving care and friendship. The graveside funeral service will be held Friday, November 22, 2019, at 3:00 P.M., in Monte Vista Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Richard Gibbons, Nick Collins, Jerry Love, Kenneth Hinson, Kevin Gray and Myron Morelock. Those planning to attend are to meet at the cemetery by 2:50 P.M. Those who prefer to make memorial donations in Jim’s name, please do so to East Unaka Christian Church, 1201 E. Unaka Ave., Johnson City, TN 37601.Read Obituary