Pete Yardley, Former President of Baker Furniture, Dies at 84

December 15, 2009  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in on December 16, 2009 Thomas Pierce "Pete" Yardley, former president of Baker Furniture, has died following a long illness. He was 84.

Yardley spent most of his career with Baker Furniture in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he held a number of management positions. In 1970, he was named president of the company. He served as a naval officer in World War II and the Korean War. Yardley graduated from the University of Minnesota and earned his MBA from the University of Michigan.

Yardley was also a past president of the National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and past president of the Grand Rapids Area Furniture Manufacturers Association.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marjorie Yardley; his children, Peter (Lynn) Yardley of Grand Rapids, Mich.; his daughter, Anne Yardley of Chicago, and son, Thomas (Jackie) Yardley of Chicago. He is also survived by five grandchildren, William, Catherine, Andrew, Caroline and Margot.

Services will be held Thursday, Dec. 17 at noon at St. Stephen Catholic Church in East Grand Rapids, Mich.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Grand Rapids Community Foundation.