Gary Lee Yoder, 61, of Valdosta, died on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Shands Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida from injuries sustained in a house fire that also claimed the life of his grandson, Grayson Spires. Gary was born on January 28, 1965, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and graduated from Conestoga Valley High School in 1983.

Mr. Yoder was a family man who loved to dote on his grandchildren, and was known to them as ‘Pappy’ and to others as ‘G-Money’. He loved sports, in particular, Alabama Football, as well as grilling, drag racing, and Nascar. He worked with the Valdosta Country Club as golf course and grounds keeper, and was of the Christian faith.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Sherri Yoder of Valdosta; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Meagan Spires, and Courtney and Zach Dykes all of Valdosta, and Brittany and Jarrod Baker of Adel; his grandchildren, Avery Grace Spires and Easton Luke Spires; his father, Levi Yoder and his wife, Barbara; his siblings and their spouses, Ronald and Debbie Houck, Sandy and Mike Burkhart, and Troy Yoder; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Deborah and Jack Skelly; nieces and nephews and their spouses, Lisa and Mike Pirowski, John Skelly, Dane TenEyck, Erica and Ryan Emig, Ashley Yoder, Justin and Marlene Burkhart, and Oliva Yoder; numerous great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded by his mother, Esther Goetz; his mother-in-law, Grace Getz; his father-in-law, Kenneth Frankhouser, and his grandparents, Harvey and Gladys Houck.

Services for Gary Lee Yoder will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, October 23 in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with the family receiving friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home at 3 p.m. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane.