After a courageous nine year battle with cancer, Nial passed away peacefully at his home in Apache Junction, AZ. Nial was born in Seattle, WA and moved to Ephrata, WA in 1947. He was a longtime Ephrata resident. He attended schools in Ephrata and graduated from Ephrata High School in 1959. He attended Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA and Chicago Technical College in Chicago, IL. While in Chicago, he met the love of his life, Mary Jo Leyden. They wed in 1961, and celebrated 48 years of marriage this year. Nial was a contractor by trade and a carpenter at heart. He devoted over 50 years to the construction in this area. He built many churches, hospitals and public buildings throughout the state. Life was Nial's hobby. He was a veracious collector of all things, including stamps, trains and cars. He loved to be out on the golf course with his friends and spent countless hours tinkering and creating works of art in his shop. The three most important things in Nial's life were faith, family and friends. He left the world the same way he came in, without any fuss.

He was an only child, born to the late Harvey and Erma Yager. Nial will forever be remembered by his devoted wife, Mary Jo; beloved children, Michele and Scott Draper, Suzanne and Mike Ward, Nial and Trish Yager and Heather and Pete Lazzaretti; treasured grandchildren, Allie, Elizabeth, Alex, Hanna, Walt, Christian, Katherine, Nellie, Zoie, Zach, Michael and Levi; along with countless other friends and family, who were blessed to know him.

Friends and family are invited to attend Services at St. Rose of Lima Church in Ephrata, WA. Rosary Services will be Sunday evening, March 14, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held Monday, March 15, 2010, at 11:00 a.m.