In Loving Memory
REBECCA LEE YEAMAN
April 8, 1955 – February 6, 2023
Rebecca passed away after a short illness in the presence of her husband and son on February 6, 2023, at Chaplaincy Hospice House in Kennewick, Washington.
Rebecca was born on April 8, 1955 in Yakima, Washington, to parents Ken and Shirley Yeaman. She attended Eisenhower High School, where she excelled in swimming and tennis, and then graduated from Washington State University with degrees in psychology and social work. Her early jobs involved working with troubled teenagers at Planned Parenthood in Yakima with Gwen Chapman. During this time, she joined the Yakima Enological Society where she fell in love with Washington wines. In 1985 Becky made a major career change and became the tasting room manager at Quail Run Winery in Zillah. That same year her boss Stan Clarke introduced her to Wade Wolfe, a good friend of Stan’s. In 1986 Becky left Quail Run to work at the Yakima Holiday Inn as the hotel sales manager. In 1987, Becky and Wade were married in Steilacoom, Washington, where Wade’s parents resided.
Pursuing their love of wine, Wade and Becky made their first commercial wines at Hyatt Vineyards Winery in the fall of 1987 under the Thurston Wolfe label. One of the first wines produced was a late harvest white wine named Sweet Rebecca in honor of Becky. A favorite saying she always made is that she may be Rebecca, but she’s not always sweet! In 1990 they opened their own winery in Yakima on Front Street and in the same year she gave birth to the son Joshua. Soon after she left the Holiday Inn to spend full time managing the Thurston Wolfe tasting room. In 1995, they moved to Prosser and relocated the winery to a leased Port of Benton building. In 2005 they designed and built their own winery in Vintners Village where she continued to manage the tasting room and winery’s business affairs until her illness.
Becky had a great love of music and dance and expressed it by teaching aerobics, first at the Yakima Athletic Club and later at the Prosser Athletic Club. She was nicknamed the ‘drill sergeant’ by her loyal students because of her challenging exercise programs. Another great love was for animals. She adopted and rescued many, including six dogs, many cats, a Guinea pig and a camel named Merlin. She was a strong supporter of the local humane societies and pet rescue organizations. Finally, she loved her home in the country north of Prosser. Purchased from the Mike Hogue family, she took great pleasure in several home remodeling projects, tending her garden and spending time with her dogs and cats. Wherever Becky lived she was interested in local economic and social development, participated in local chambers and was a long-time member of the Prosser Rotary Club. She was loved and cherished by her family and close friends, appreciated for her hard work and dedication by business associates, and always greeted customers with a friendly smile.
Becky was preceded in death by her parents, Ken and Shirley and is survived by husband, Wade, son, Joshua, brother, Michael and five cats. Any donations should be made to Hospice, local humane societies or Planned Parenthood. She is sorely missed and will always be loved.
No services are planned at this time. You may leave a message for the family at www.prosserfuneralhome.com