Evelyn Gardner Yarbrough

Evelyn Gardner Yarbrough was born February 12, 1934 and died December 24, 2021. She was a descendent of early Dallas County pioneer families. Her great-grandfather, Wiley Gardner was County Commissioner when the Old Red Courthouse was built. From an early age, she gained valuable training working in her father’s office where he instilled in her the principles of good business practice. She grew up in East Dallas on what was then known as East Pike. Because her family lived outside of the Dallas City limits, they paid tuition for her to attend the Dallas schools as they had done for her older sister. She considered herself a true daughter of East Dallas.

She was educated at Mt. Auburn Elementary School, J. L. Long Junior High, Woodrow Wilson High School and Baylor University, where she was a member of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Honorary Spanish Fraternity. In 1953 she married James Ray Yarbrough. They had three children. Her business career included 10 years in the hospitality industry and nearly 25 years in mortgage banking. She retired from First Horizon Home Loans in 2000. During the 70’s, in addition to her full-time job, she taught evening classes in English as a Second Language for the Adult Basic Education Department of the Dallas Independent School District. She grew up in East Grand Baptist Church and later joined Casa View Baptist and then Shiloh Terrace Baptist. When she moved to Rockwall in 2017, she joined Rockwall – First Baptist. Through the years, she served in various positions of leadership in the organizations of which she was a member.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Eva LaQuey Gardner, her two sisters, Dr. Delores Gardner and Janelle Monico and by her grandsons, Bryan Hickman and David Yarbrough. She is survived by her three children, Marcus J. (Mark) Yarbrough and wife Carrie, Eric Yarbrough and wife Linda, Angela Hickman and husband David and grandchildren Christopher, Joshua, James, and Andrew Yarbrough, Monica Lasseter, Kristine Hickman, John Hickman and wife Stacy, Matthew Yarbrough and wife Lindsey Newhall and great-granddaughter Mazie Newhall-Yarbrough.

A visitation for Evelyn will be held Tuesday, January 4, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Anderson-Clayton-Gonzalez Funeral Home, 1111 Military Parkway, Mesquite, Texas 75149. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 10:00 AM, 1111 Military Parkway, Mesquite, Texas 75149. A committal service will occur Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Grove Hill Memorial Park, 3920 Samuell Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75228.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.andersonclaytongonzalez.com for the Yarbrough family.