Dan Yancey Obituary On September 7, 2022, Daniel Yancey of Nampa, Idaho, was finally set free to be with his Lord and Savior at the age of 79. He joined in heaven his adored bride of 53 years, Ruth (Powell) Yancey, and his parents. He leaves behind two children, John Yancey and Christina Barker, six grandchildren, and two great grandsons. His family and countless friends can find comfort in the knowledge that he is now, finally healed. Daniel, Dan to most who knew him, was born June 6th, 1943 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Harold and Veril. He was raised along the coast and in the forests and waterways of Southern Oregon with two sisters Hazel Beidleman and Alice Torres. He quickly developed lifelong appreciations for the outdoors, art, church, and music. Dan, though often quiet, expressed himself through the trombone, his wonderful bullfrog bass voice, and by photographing and painting the Rocky and Cascade Mountains. He excelled physically as a sprinter and enjoyed boxing and gymnastics much more than schoolwork. While attending Northwest Nazarene College, he enrolled in a biology class where he met his wife, Ruth. She first fell in love with his bright blue eyes. Their first date was on Halloween, and he proposed on April Fools Day. Neither missed the irony in the dates and their quick wit and humor were constants in their life together. Dan loved to laugh and enjoyed finding joy in simple things while he and Ruth explored Gods creation. After graduation from NNC in 1966, Dan went on to seminary in Kansas City, Missouri while Ruth finished her masters in teaching. There they started their family and their careers. He was a lay pastor and Sunday School teacher as he worked his way through school. He also took up coaching at the local community center. Ruth became a seamstress, teacher, and gifted pianist. Both pursued their love of music, painting, and photographing. Faith, teaching, and art would be common themes in their lives. As a natural teacher and mentor, Dan excelled as a coach. First as a diving instructor then gymnastics coach. He came to be considered one of the top-five coaches of Womens Gymnastics in the US. Over the next 20 years, he prepared hundreds of students to complete nationally, internationally, and 17 to qualify for the US Olympic team. He impowered young girls to be fearless and strong and encouraged them to believe that they could do anything they set their mind and heart to. He taught fearlessness from a biblical perspective. If your heart was right then there was nothing to fear. Isaiah 41:10 and Psalm 27:1. The competitive gymnastic schedule had the young Yancey family traveling across the United States for many years. During the "off-season" the family would return to Idaho. Dan discovered he had the intellect and drive to serve the Idaho community from the sheriffs office. When the 1980 Olympics was boycotted he retired from gymnastics and the family returned to settle in Idaho. Dan worked his way from a guard in the jail to Sargent Detective with the Canyon County Sheriffs Office. He mentored new officers and taught courses for the Idaho police academy while serving the residents of Owyhee, Canyon, and Adams counties. After coaching and the police force, Dan led the security and safety team for Micron for 18 years. Always the teacher and mentor, he designed the intranet used for OSHA safety training as well as developed security protocols for the Boise facility. Dan had spent thousands of hours in his patrol car on the country roads and highways of south and central Idaho. After retirement, he and Ruth clocked another tens of thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of miles exploring the mountain and coastal roads of the west. It was not uncommon for them to take their Chevy Monte Carlo "for a drive" after church and not return home that evening, or the next, or the next. When asked where they went, the answer was often the Oregon coast or to Jackson Hole and sometimes a simple "everywhere." Their grandchildren loved their road trips through bumpy roads and squirrely highways deep into the woods to hike, fish, and "rock hunt". They seldom missed a Sunday at church somewhere but never missed the opportunity to worship as they explored Gods world. Dans favorite hymns was, "This is My Fathers World." Being in Gods creation was part of worship for Dan and Ruth, but they also practiced their faith through teaching and learning. Dan taught himself Greek so he could expand his passionate study of scripture. His favorite passages were those that balanced obedience with faith and joy in Hebrews and Philippians. He often hummed, in his best bullfrog bass, an old Big John Hall song taken from Philippians 4:8. He thoughtfully read and reread the writings of John Wesley and many other influential theologians. He lived out his faith by ministering to his neighbors in the hopes they would come to know God loved them even more than he did. He was a prayer partner, emotional encourager, as well as financial supporter of new pastors starting their career, seasoned pastors starting new churches, and as a lifelong friend to missionaries working around the world. His focus and refocus was to stop and look for the good. Dan was never financially wealthy and for most of his life struggled with illness, losing his sight, and debilitating pain. Most would never know these facts because he was filled with a spirit of laughter, a passion for being in Gods creation and documenting its beauty through art, a heart for mentorship and service, and a teachers patience. His legacy is a treasure trove of fond memories that reflect his love for God and others. Philippians 4:8, NIV, "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about such things." Psalm 27:1, NIV, "TheLordis my lightand my salvation -whom shall I fear? TheLordis the strongholdof my lifeof whom shall I be afraid?" Isaiah 41:10, NIV "Donotfear,forIamwithyou; donotbe dismayed,forIamyour God.Iwill strengthenyouand helpyou;Iwill upholdyouwithmy righteous right hand." This is My Fathers World, Maltbie D. Babcock (1901) 1 This is my Father's world, And to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas-- His hand the wonders wrought. 2 This is my Father's world: The birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker's praise. This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair; In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere. 3 This is my Father's world: O let me ne'er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father's world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad! Services Private Committal Greenleaf Cemetery Hwy 19 Greenleaf, ID 83626