Van Buren businessman Ed Yeager has died

Ed Yeager, co-owner of the four Yeager Hardware stores in the Fort Smith and Van Buren area and son of the company’s founder, died Monday (April 27). He was 78. He also was co-owner and operator of the Shamrock Liquor Warehouse in Fort Smith.

Yeager Hardware and Shamrock issued this statement: “It is with great sadness that we report the death of our beloved Ed Yeager following a biking accident yesterday. He loved Van Buren and leaves behind a powerful legacy of generosity and service. But he loved his family even more. Our hearts are broken for Shirley and Deborah, Aaron and Scott, Ashton, Braden, Lexi, and Gage. We take comfort in knowing Ed left this world doing something he loved and that he entered into the next world greeted by his daughter, Karen. There will be a public viewing at Edwards Van-Alma funeral home Thursday 8am-5pm and Friday 8am-12:30pm with a private graveside service due to Covid-19 regulations.”

Yeager Hardware was founded in Van Buren in 3,600-square-foot building at 910 Broadway by Ernest Yeager in 1959, according to the Yeager Hardware website. Ed would join the company as store manager in 1966. Ernest sold the store to his son in 1982, the same year the business moved to a large location at 1401 E. Main St. in Van Buren. The store would move again in 1984 to its present Van Buren site at 1610 E. Main St.

Ed opened a second location in 1987 on Midland Avenue in Fort Smith, and that location would move in 1990 to 2619 Rogers Ave., which remains open. He would then open a store at 4910 Jenny Lind Road in Fort Smith in 1992. In 2001, Yeager opened a hardware store and lumberyard in Greenwood.

His daughters, Deborah and Karen, were partners in the business. Deborah Yeager joined the business in 1990 and now manages the Jenny Lind and Greenwood operations. Karen managed the Rogers Avenue store until her death in 2011.

“We value each customer, many of whom are now friends after so many years,” Ed Yeager noted in the company’s history. “We strive to give our customers the best possible service, and the best possible price. It is truly a pleasure to have helped so many people for over 50 years. We appreciate your business.”

Rusty Myers, a Van Buren native and former economic development director with the Western Arkansas Planning and Development District, said losing Yeager was “a real shock” because he was so active in the business and the community.

“He built that business on what his dad started, but he really built it up. He was an outstanding businessman, and he and Shirley were always supportive of the community,” Myers said, adding that Ed and Shirley were 2006 recipients of the Iverson Riggs award.

The Iverson Riggs Citizen of the Year Award is given to to those who made exemplary contributions of time, talent or resources to Van Buren.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley of the home; a daughter, Deborah Clark and husband Scott of Fort Smith; a son-in-law, Aaron Windsor of Benton; a sister, Carolyn “Kakie” Deffenbaugh and husband Gary of Van Buren; a brother, Ernie Yeager and wife Florence of Jasper; and four grandchildren, Ashton Clark and Braden Clark, both of Fort Smith, Gage Windsor of Fayetteville, and Lexi Windsor of Benton.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorial contributions be made to Van Buren Boys & Girls Club, the Center For Art & Education in Van Buren, or the River Valley Ovarian Cancer Alliance.