Yvonne Temple, age 84, went to be with her savior on Sunday July 24, 2022. Yvonne passed peacefully in her home, with her loving husband John of some 59 years by her side. John spent the past 9 months devotedly loving and caring for Yvonne and has been a Christ-like example to many.
Yvonne was born to the late Edward and Myrtle Milns in Boksburg, South Africa on April 8, 1938. Yvonne‘s death was preceded by her siblings Merle Brown and Evan Milns. She lived in Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa and during the 1990s lived part of the time in Australia. From the early 2000s she and John moved to England and made their main home in the New Forest. They also acquired a home in Switzerland and spent several months there every year. Earlier this year she and John came to Johnson City, Tennessee to be closer to 3 of their children and their families. Together with John, and sometimes with the family, she enjoyed extensive travel in Europe, the USA and the Pacific region.
Yvonne’s life was dedicated to glorifying God and sharing the love of Christ with those she came in contact with. She will be remembered for her service and care of many who entered her home. She was mother to many more than her 4 offspring. She was always very involved in a local church near to her home. She always had an unwavering sense of right and wrong and her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ never wavered. Yvonne was gifted with the ministry of hospitality and over the years served so many in her home who came as strangers and left as friends. Yvonne also had a special gift of being able to communicate with and care for animals, including raising a squirrel as a teenager.
Yvonne spent much of her life as a homemaker. She and John raised 4 children who all loved her dearly and will miss her. Meryl van der Merwe, married to Piers now living in Knoxville, Tennessee. Lynne Robinson married to Jeff also of Knoxville, Tennessee. David Temple married to Sue of Johnson City, Tennessee and Peter Temple married to Helen of Cape Town, South Africa. Yvonne was also much loved by her 16 grandchildren and was blessed most recently by a great granddaughter.
Those left to cherish her memory are invited to attend a memorial service at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home on August 2, 2022, at 2pm followed by a graveside service. Pastor Reggie Weems of Heritage Baptist Church, Johnson City, Tennessee will officiate. The service will be live streamed on YouTube (Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home, Jonesborough, TN in the search bar).
Yvonne supported and loved the ministry of Christian Prison Resourcing and in particular the ministry of David Fortune. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to https://www.christianprisonresourcing.org.uk/get-involved/
Special thanks to those who cared for her from Ballad Health Hospice, Dr Marta Wayt and her staff, Mary and Steve Erwin, Connie Tilson and Barbara Moore.
08/11/2022
Beverley Forbes
hear so many saying Mrs Temple regarded them as her own. Well, I know exactly how that felt . I remind Meryl from time to time that I am her (sister) that’s how welcome I felt .
I had the privilege of staying over many times at Mrs. Temple home in Newlands Cape Town when Mr. Temple traveled . Lots of late nights just chatting and learning from a true woman of God .
My family with five kids was invited for launch several times and, the best of a spread was made available . I spent a few weeks with Mrs. and Mr. Temple at their home in The forest UK and there I was treated like a queen. Mrs. Temple, a spiritual Mother to all at Newlands evangelical Church . A woman with immense compassion and love for all who crossed her path .
I never called Yvonne ‘Auntie’ or ‘older sister’ " I think she may have decked me, but that is how I felt. I knew a wonderful Christian love from Yvonne (and John) that has been extremely supportive for many years. I can best describe it like a small boy in a fight against a bully and the bully backs off. The small boy didn’t realise at the time of the encounter why the bully backed off, it was because the bully saw who was standing behind his victim! I felt this to be very much the case with the support and Christ-like love and daily prayers from Yvonne. I am sure I speak for many when I say I felt like I was the only one who mattered when she communicated by email, text, zoom, telephone call or in person. Yvonne had that wonderful quality of making one feel very special, especially when she explained things through her beloved husband’s life lessons. ‘Well David, when John was…’
Always fond affection in Christ, David and family
I first met Yvonne 65 yers ago and our friendship grew throughout the years, even when the miles separated us as God led us in our different paths. I am grateful for the many bonds of friendship formed through our mutual desire to be true followers of Jesus Christ, and I am hugely thankful for a friend whose kindness, love and friendship will be sorely missed.
To the Temple family, My and family condolences on the passing of “Mrs T”. She was my second mother to me and taught me and Ann my wife how to love Godly and Christ-centred lives and build a family that exemplifies this. We learn what it meant to be hospitable, a gift she had in abundance. We thank the Temple family especially Doc for adopting us. May her soul rest in peace in the arms of our Lord who will gladly welcome her and say, well done good and faithful servant.
Absent from the body but present with The Lord.
To the Temple family we all have sweet memories of Mrs T as she was affectionately adressed. Words that come to mind are kind , compassionate, generous extremely hospitable humble and wise .
May the Lord be your greatest comfort during this time.
07/30/2022
Roy & Cindy Wiese
Even though our in-person contact was sporadic, it was a privilege for us to have known Yvonne for nearly 40 years and be inspired by her firm faith and blessed by her warm heart and hospitality.
I personally was deeply aware of Yvonne as a deeply sincere Christian woman of outstanding high integrity, always on the forefront of witnessing for Christ by reaching out to the lost. My first knowledge of her goes back 60 years. She and John ran the tennis club at Clapham High School in Pretoria, South Africa. I was a lost sinner, Their care for other people and the prayer of thanksgiving at tea time when we had a break in playing tennis, made such an impression on me that I'm convinced this was one of the means God used in my conversion.
She truly was a Godly woman, during the ensuing years, I and my family got to know her better and often enjoyed hospitality at their home in Lynnwood. She will be remembered by us all, and as such deeply missed by all who came into contact with her, and were blessed by her very fruitful life.
For my part as a younger woman, I looked up to Yvonne as my mentor and example of what it means to be a Christian mother , friend and disciple and in every way she was worthy of my admiration. , for she was a wonderful example of the Proverbs 31 woman .I thank our Heavenly Father for this privilege of knowing her and seeing her practice her beliefs day by day .I enjoyed her very able hospitality on many occasions for she was an excellent manager of her household and could cook up , or at least organise a delicious and generous meal. We enjoyed many lively discussions and she loved talking about her family members with pride and affection . She WILL be sorely missed by us here in South Africa too.
Much love , Beryl
07/28/2022
Robin and Sandy Simpson
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Yvonne. She was a lovely neighbour for almost thirteen years, a very gentle person who used to spoil us with samples of her cooking. She was very brave in coping with her illness and was determined to move to America to be with her family. Our thoughts are with you John and your family. You will always be remembered Yvonne.
07/27/2022
Carolyn Coombes
So very sorry to hear of Yvonne's passing, John, but praise God that she's now in glory with the Saviour and Lord she loved and served so faithfully. My love and prayers for you and the family. Carolyn Coombes
So sorry to learn of this lovely ladies passing. Praying for your family and that God will comfort you with loving memories of her life and her legacy that lives on in her family. Blessings, Pam and Woody Johnson
07/26/2022
Kimberly Bennett
I am so sorry to hear that Mrs. Temple has left her earthly home. I will be praying for God’s words to comfort Mr. Temple and the entire Temple Family at this difficult time. Sincerely, Kimberly Bennett
