On January 1, 1936 in Villa Ridge, Mo, Ralph Elmer Yokley was born to Emil and Minnie Yokley. Ralph was the sixth and youngest child born to this union. Both of Ralph’s parents and all of his siblings preceded him in death.
Ralph was raised and educated in Franklin County and in the Villa Rouge/Robertsville community. On September 7, 1957, Ralph married Shirley Fleming, and five children were born to this union; Faye, Wayne, Danny, Lisa and Gwendolyn. Shirley and Lisa also preceded him in death.
In the late 1950s, Ralph and his family moved to the Kirkwood/Meacham Park, Mo area and later to Webster Groves, Mo, where he raised his family.
Ralph was a talented and hardworking man. He was an entrepreneur and owned his trucking company for many years, and he was employed with Kozeny Wagner Construction as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic for over 30 years.
Ralph received Christ in his life at an early age during his membership at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Robertsville, Mo. He later joined Gospel Temple COGIC in Webster Groves and received the Holy Ghost and was baptized in the Mississippi River in the early 1960s under the pastorate of the late Elder N.L. McClung. Ralph and his family remained at Gospel Temple under the capable leadership of Elder Melvin E. Moore, until he and Shirley relocated to Robertsville, where he became a member of Robertsville Temple COGIC with Pastor Charles Runnels, Sr. and later Pastor Kenneth Lawson.
Ralph was affectionately known as “Duke”, and when his health permitted, he would be found every Sunday morning in church with his guitar and amplifier in tow. He enjoyed singing and playing the guitar with his church family, as well as with the “Voices of Robertsville” and the “Barry Singers”. Ralph also became a recording artist when he accompanied Sister Martha Hulsey on her recording.
Ralph leaves to cherish his memory: four children, Faye McKinley (James), Wayne Yokley, Daniel Yokley (Regina), Gwen Yokley (special friend Eldridge Cherry); five grandsons, Roy Jones, Jr., Delawrence Jones, Jharis Yokley, Dante Yokley and Tilton Yokley.
