June 10, 1940 – January 31, 2022
Born to Guy Adakiah Yazzie and Bessie Lula Black on Navajo Reservation, on the Utah/AZ border. Teddy Yazzie spent most of his childhood days, herding sheep or looking for cows, for the family.
When he wasn’t tied down with chores, he was out with cousins chasing wild horses, to saddle and ride them. He left home at the age of 8 and went to boarding school, where he finished high school in an all Indian boarding school, Chilocco Oklahoma. After, he continued his education at CEU Price Utah, where he graduated with his Associates of Arts degree.
Family was huge for him, while in the Army and weeks before being shipped to Vietnam, his father passed. He was then, honorably discharged and a ticket back to the Navajo reservation, where he found himself helping his mother, working and raising his younger siblings. 1977, He married (Minnie Deal), together they had 6 children (4 boys, 2 girls). This set the course for a great life that meant the world to him.
-He worked in the Mining industry for 40 years, Union Carbide in Dove Creek CO, Energy Fuels in Kanab Utah, American Girl Mining in Winterhaven CA, Getchel/TR/Barrick/Hollister mines in Winnemucca NV, retiring in 2013. Supporting his family is what drove him, with integrity he led by example of what it meant to be a hard working, loyal and loving father. His youthful, energetic, love for life, along with his smile and infectious laugh, always brought a smile to others.
Teddy is proceded in death by his mother Bessie Lula Black, father Guy Adakiah Yazzie Sr. Siblings Paul Guy Sr, Guy Yazzie Jr, Kay Adakai, Gladys Oliver, daughter Tiffany Belinda Yazzie.
He is survived by his wife Minnie D. Yazzie. Children, Therdina Singer (Husband, Leonard Singer and 5 children), Tyson Adakai Yazzie, Terence Adakai Yazzie (Wife, Rosanna and 4 children), Tyron Teddy Yazzie, Tapatha Yazzie (3 children), Travis Yazzie (2 children).
He was laid to rest, February 14th at Blanding Cemetery, in Blanding Utah.
