Bertha Mae Yarbrough

December 12, 1920 - December 3, 2020

Bertha Mae Yarbrough was born December 12, 1920 in Goldthwaite, Texas to John and Ellen McCarty Madison. She met her sweetheart and love of her life, Willie N. Yarbrough at age 16. After a brief courtship, they married on December 18, 1937. Exactly nine months later, they welcomed their first son, Doyle Dean followed by Billy Dwayne and then Larry Richard. In 1957, they moved to Irving, Texas, where they made their home for over 50 years. Her husband, Willie passed away in November 1990. Bertha continued to live in the same house, attend church at Southside Baptist Church, which had been her church home since 1957. She taught Children’s Sunday school for many years. She was a devout Christian. She loved to whistle and was known for always whistling a tune as she worked, cooked, and went about her day. She was a homemaker, taking care of her boys, husband, grandkids, and great grandkids. She worked at a Cookie Factory in Irving, Texas and also babysat children. She never did master how to drive a car and loved to be chauffeured around by her family and friends. Although she did not drive, she was a master at giving directions to her favorite store, Gibson’s in Irving. Her hobbies and interests included gardening, growing beautiful flowers and vegetables, canning, quilting, floating the water, watching Days of Our Lives for 50+ years, and was known for her delicious pies, yeast rolls, and tea cake cookies. She will be remembered by family for her love of the simple things in life – fresh flowers, sewing, baking, taking care of friends and family. She had a special way of making everyone feel taken care of. She was a quiet, humble, and sweet woman. She had a gentle and loving spirit. She rarely watched TV, but if she did, she had it on the highest volume and it was tuned into Days of Our Lives, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, and Perry Mason. She always made time for her kids and grandkids, except when her favorite soap opera was on, then the TV had her full attention. Thank goodness Days of Our Lives was only for 1 hour. She is survived by her three sons, Dean, Bill and Larry Yarbrough, and their families; Grandchildren, Shawn, Ricky, Jeff, Kim, and Saronda, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. She is preceded in death by her father, her mom who died when she was twelve years old, husband, four brothers, three sisters, and various other loved ones and family. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home of San Saba.