Peter W. Yoars of Oak Bluffs died on April 21 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital of natural causes. He was 85.

He was born in Great Neck on Long Island in 1936 and grew up in Bedford, N.Y. He graduated from Exeter Academy in 1954 and Duke University in 1958. After college he commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a second lieutenant and was stationed in Tokyo. He had a rewarding career in Manhattan in advertising, and later built a successful manufacturer’s representative business with his wife Peggy.

He spent childhood summers at his family home on Seven Gates Farm. More than 30 years ago, he became a year-round Island resident. Active in his church and as a community volunteer, he served on the Oak Bluffs zoning board for several terms. He was a lifelong sports enthusiast who loved to play soccer, paddle tennis and golf. He was also an avid sports fan, including his beloved New York Yankees, the New England Patriots, Duke basketball and, in later years, the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks.

He loved the beach, his Great Danes, gardening with his wife, barbecuing for family and friends. He was an avid reader of the Sunday paper and a good book.

He was the loving son of the late Mildred Wight Yoars and Harry Albert Yoars.

Peter is survived by Marjorie (Peggy) Moore Yoars, his wife of 41 years. He was a devoted father to his five children: Elizabeth Grant of South Salem, N.Y. and Oak Bluffs, Tracy Drew of Plymouth, Hunton Tiffany of Avon, Conn., Rawls Tiffany, of Oak Bluffs and Peter Yoars Jr. of Madison, Conn. He was also a beloved Pop-Pop to his nine grandchildren and is survived by many loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Arrangements are being made by Chapman Funerals & Cremations in Oak Bluffs; messages for the family can be left on Obituaries page of their website.

A celebration of life will be held at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury at 1051 State Road on Saturday, May 7 at 2 p.m. The family welcomes friends to join them at the service and the reception to follow.

Memorial donations can be made to the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury (Checks may be sent to the church at: PO Box 3000, PMB 3111, West Tisbury, MA 02575) or to the MV Sharks Baseball Foundation at P.O. Box 2058, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or online at www.mvsharks.com.