James Franklin Yerian, age 82, of Athens died Friday evening, March 28, 2025 at Hickory Creek Nursing Center, The Plains. Born August 6, 1942, in Athens at Sheltering Arms Hospital, he was the son of the late Donald A. and Mary A. Yerian of Glouster.

The 1960 valedictorian of Glouster High School, he graduated from Ohio University in 1964. He served in the US Army for 2 years as part of the 949th Medical Detachment, where he was stationed at Walter Reed Medical Center and Okinawa, Japan. For the next 30 years he worked for the Ohio Department of Health, where he met his wife Phyllis, and the Ohio EPA, retiring in 1996. He was an avid hunter and fisher, loved reading, doing crosswords, researching genealogy, and raising miniature horses. He loved children and was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church.

Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Phyllis (2008), whom he married in 1967.

He is survived by his daughter, Jill (Ralph) Galvan, of Cosmos, MN; twin sons, Mike Yerian of Athens and Jon (Erin) Yerian of Delaware, OH; son, Steven (Heather) Yerian of Athens; eight grandchildren, Kayla, twins Jace and Alexa, Joseph, Annie, Lizzy, Zelie, and Matthew; four siblings, Ronald (Judith) Yerian of Lancaster, Gretchen Yerian of Newcomerstown, Kenneth (Dolly) Yerian of Glouster, and Mary Jane (Thomas) Campbell of West Union, Ohio.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday April 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, with Father Jeremiah Hann as celebrant. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at Jagers and Sons Funeral Home, Athens, where a Vigil for the Deceased will be at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday.  Military Rites will be conducted at the cemetery by KT Crossen Post 21 American Legion and VFW Post 9893 Honor Guards.  Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.