Janet Kay Yardman

Janet Kay Yardman, affectionately known as Kay, was born on January 13, 1941, in Sullivan, Indiana. It is with great sorrow that her family announces her passing on October 12, 2026, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the age of 85.

Kay is survived by her daughters, Evone and her husband, Fernando Prada; Karen; and Diane. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Erik; Mark and his wife, Vanessa; Brad and his wife, Leslie; Lucas and his wife, Gabrielle; and Christina. Her great-grandchildren include Bodhi, Alexandra, Ariana and her husband, Tyler Workman, Alyssa, Bradley, Shelby, Will, Amarise, Luka, Layla, and Scarlet. She was also looking forward to the birth of her first great-great-grandchild.

She is survived by her siblings and in-laws, including Steve Boone and his wife, Pam, of Texas; Vera Boone of Arizona; Mary and her husband, Gary Goss, of Texas; Gary Boone of Indiana; Nellie Yardman of Santa Fe; and Sylvia and her husband, Arthur Pacheco, of Tesuque. She also leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband, David Yardman; her son, Stanley Yardman; her grandson David; her parents, Howard and Ruby Boone; her siblings, Kenneth Boone, Stanley Boone, and Thomas Boone; her parents-in-law, George and Josephine Yardman; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Rosie Yardman; Edward and Lydia Yardman; Elizabeth Yardman and Robert Yardman.

Kay grew up on a farm in Indiana as the third of seven children. Her family worked hard, attended church every Sunday, and shared a close and loving life together. Her father rose early each morning to complete his chores before going to work, while her mother cared for the farm and children, canning food for the winter, making their clothes, and taking an active role in their education. Kay often spoke fondly of helping her father cool the cow milk before it was picked up and enjoying the snow ice cream her mother made from the freshly fallen snow.

When Kay was in eighth grade, her parents purchased a dairy farm in Sommersville, Missouri. After the farm was lost to a disease affecting the cattle, the family moved to Farmington, New Mexico, where they began farming potatoes. The potatoes grew so large that they were sold to local restaurants for making French fries. Everyone in the family helped out on the farm and Kay worked at a dime store.

Kay began her senior year at Farmington High School, where she soon made many friends, including David Yardman. They met on a blind date and dated throughout her senior year. They were married on August 19, 1958 in Farmington.

David and Kay settled in Tesuque, where they built their home, raised their children, and operated Yardman’s Septic Service until David’s passing in 1991.

Kay’s greatest joy was her family. She devoted her life to caring for her children, grandchildren, and other family members. She cooked our meals, made our school clothes, tucked us in at night after prayers, and greeted us each morning with a gentle voice and a warm breakfast. She created a home filled with love, faith, and security.

Kay loved cooking, tending her vegetable and flower gardens, and collecting rocks—bringing one home from nearly everywhere she went. She also had a deep interest in genealogy and spent countless hours documenting her family history, preserving photographs that reached back generations, and researching the Boone family line to Daniel Boone and beyond.

Her faith was central to her life. She taught her family about God and sometimes held church services in the living room for us kids, complete with grape juice and crackers for communion. Through her words and example, she taught that the most important thing was to be a good person. In her later years, she devoted much of her time to studying the Bible and carefully recording her thoughts and discoveries.

David was the love of her life, and her family meant everything to her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

A small family service will be held to celebrate her life at the Prada residence on Saturday October 24, 2026, at 11:00 am.