Donald Freeman Yearwood

YEARWOOD, Donald Freeman, was born December 14, 1951 in Fayetteville, TN to Betty Scott and Donald F. Yearwood, Sr. He spent the last 43 years living and working in Dayton alongside his loving partner, Vicki Wedworth. After a sudden illness Don went home to be with the Lord on May 27, 2020.

He is survived by Vicki and his two children, Eric and Heather Yearwood; as well as his sister, Kay Paul, (Joe Paul); brother, Bill Yearwood (Debbie Yearwood); and youngest sister, Carrie Chapwick all of Collierville, TN.

Don spent his childhood in Fayetteville close to the Yearwood family farm. He graduated from Bryan Station High School, Lexington, KY. As a young man he worked hard to put himself through college at the University of Kentucky, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Marketing. After graduation, he married and started a family with Nancy Carter.

He was hired to manage Carousel Beauty College, a cosmetology school in Dayton, Ohio. Don thrived as the head of Carousel and the business began to boom. In time he purchased the business and opened additional schools, Huber Heights, Kettering, Middleton, Springfield and Cincinnati.

Don had many accomplishments in his career after serving on the Board of Directors for 8 years he was proud to accept, 2 year term as President of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools. In addition, he was President of Ohio Association of Cosmetology Schools 1999-2016, Chairman Licensing Examination Committee for the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology, Committee member for the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences, served on the board for Education Region V PCCS. He was a co-founder of Miracle Corp. Pet Products.

In recent years, he has been a key figure alongside his bother-in-law, Joe in developing a local hot sauce company Papi Joe’s Tennessee Pepper Sauce. You could often hear his thunderous voice promoting the product at 2nd Street Market, shouting Papi Joe’s, a sound that will be sorely missed by those who worked around him.

Don's greatest gifts were his infectious joy, positivity and his compassion for others. He brought happiness to the lives of all who knew him. Don was hilariously funny, and a world-class storyteller. He was a loving father, partner, brother and friend who put family and faith above all.

A Celebration of Life for Don will be held 5pm on Sunday, June 7th at the Reverie, Southbrook Christian Church, 9095 Washington Church Road, Miamisburg, OH. The family will be greeting friends 1 hour prior to the service.

The Collierville, TN service will be held at The Sanctuary on the Square, Collierville United Methodist Church, 104 N Rowlett, Thursday, June 11th at 4pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, www.heart.org.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.routsong.com.