Howard Earl Yanish, 85, passed away from a heart attack on Oct. 29, 2021, doing what he loved, trimming trees at his new home in Oklahoma City.
Howard was born Dec. 12, 1935, in Yosemite Valley, CA to Walter Howard Yanish and Evelyn Cora McCoy. When Howard was two years old, his father was killed in a fishing accident in the Bay area and his mother moved outside of the park to Mariposa, CA, where he was raised on a ranch.
Howard was preceded in death by his father, Walter Howard Yanish, mother, Evelyn Cora McCoy, Robert Ringrose (brother), and Nancy Yanish Davies (sister). He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcia Ann Yanish, two daughters, Jeanean (Jere) Yanish Jones, Shelley Paul, five grandchildren, Brigitte, Drew, Jessica Paul, Min Jung & Tae-eun Kwak.
A beloved husband, Dad, grandpa, and friend, Howard loved the outdoors, helping others, staying active and doing projects around his home, for his family and community.
As a Navy Veteran, Park Ranger, EMT, and Firefighter, Howard had a life of service and saved many lives.
At 20 years old, Howard enlisted into the Navy Seabees as a Diesel Mechanic. He spent four years in active duty and four years in reserve with an honorable discharge in 1963. In 1959, he moved back to Mariposa and began his career for the National Park Service by working in Yosemite National Park as a Forestry Worker and later Law Enforcement Park Ranger.
On May 14, 1971, Howard married Marcia Cunningham in Yosemite where two daughters were later born.
In 1974 Howard was transferred to Delaware Water Gap NRA, Pennsylvania. In 1976, he transferred to Kalaloch in Olympic National Park, Washington, and later to the Hoh Ranger Station. In 1984, he was promoted to West District Ranger of Olympic National Park and his family moved to Forks, Washington.
After his 38-year career with the National Park Service, he worked five summers as an Engine Foreman for the Department of Natural Resources.
While in Forks, Howard volunteered on the Ambulance Corps, taught Advanced First Aid, was a Red Cross Representative for the West End, Ham Radio operator and radio installer for the hospital and city hall, a volunteer fireman for Clallam County Fire Department in Forks and Beaver and led logging tours for the Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. He also was a Forks Lions Club member.
Howard loved the outdoors, the Forks community and had many friends. He loved playing poker with the guys and made quite a spread when it was his turn to host. Howard was well known for his smile, humbleness and his fantastic apple pie and famous enchiladas. He was a wonderful gardener and woodworker. He loved puttering in the yard, in his workshop, and cutting firewood. His woodshed was always full! Nothing brought him more joy than having his wife, daughters, and grandkids around!
One of his favorite poems:
“So We’ll Go No More a Roving” by Lord Byron
So, we’ll go no more a roving
So late into the night,
Though the heart be still as loving,
And the moon be still as bright.
For the sword outwears its sheath,
And the soul wears out the breast,
And the heart must pause to breathe,
And love itself have rest.
Though the night was made for loving,
And the day returns too soon,
Yet we’ll go no more a roving
By the light of the moon.
Donations can be made in Howard’s memory to the Forks Timber Museum, PO Box 873, Forks, WA 98331.
