Mr. Yandell died at his Moffett office Wednesday morning, and Moffett police and Fort Smith EMS responded to a call for assistance. The Moffett police reported Mayor Yandell was taken to Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith where he was pronounced dead.
A closed casket graveside tribute was held at 11 a.m. Saturday with his family and friends present at Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith, Ark., under the direction of Agent Funeral Home in Sallisaw. Kathy Luper officiated at the ceremony. Mr. Yandell was buried next to his Grandmother Willis.
Visitation was held from noon until 9 p.m. Friday at Agent Funeral Home in Muldrow. The Yandell family visited with relatives and close family friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.
Mr. Yandell was born on Sept. 16, 1955, the fifth son of Frank Delbert Yandell and Dorothy Juanita Willis Yandell in Fort Smith. He spent his younger years in Moffett with his Granny Willis then moved to Los Angeles in 1969 where he continued his education and graduated with an associate's degree in computer science.
He married Debra Sue Agnew on his 20th birthday, Sept. 16, 1975, and the couple had two sons.
Mr. Yandell later moved to Las Vegas where he had a career in the casino industry for many years before taking an early medical retirement and moving back to Moffett 30 years after he had moved to California.
Of the Pentecostal Holiness faith, Mr. Yandell was saved at the Moffett Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1962.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandmother.
Mr. Yandell is survived by his two sons, Robert William Yandell and his wife, Jessica, of Bella Vista, Ark., and Bryan Christopher Yandell, and his wife, April, of Moffett; his granddaughter, Kadence Savannah Yandell, and a set of triplets who are on the way; four brothers, Donnie and Timmy, both of Moffett, Jimmy "J.D." of San Pedro, Calif., and Ricky of Washington; his sister, Bobbie Urso of Bullhead City, Ariz.; many nieces, nephews and friends; and his special friends and pets, Mister, Rascal and Jewels.
Family, friends and Moffett police said, "Mayor Billy Yandell will be greatly missed."
To offer electronic condolences to the family visit www.agentfuneralhome.com.
