Mary Elizabeth Yarbrough's Obituary
Mary Elizabeth Yarbrough, age 84, of Charleston, Illinois, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family, friends and her furry companions at 2:00 a.m. on January 1, 2026. She was born on April 3, 1941, in Minnesota, to Sam and Helen (Spreitzer) Stone.
Mary is survived by her daughters, Heather Buxton of Thousand Oaks, California, and Terra (Dan) Brosseau of Naperville, Illinois; her brother, Sam (Helen) Stone of Duluth, Minnesota; her bonus daughter, Gena (Greg) Epperson; her grandchildren, Samantha Buxton of Thousand Oaks, California, Colby Buxton of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Ashleigh Buxton of Los Angeles, California, Kelsey (Andrew), and Justin (Maggie) Brosseau of Chicago, Illinois; and her great-grandchildren, Kacey Christopher Buxton of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Ella, and Bennett Brosseau of Chicago, Illinois. She also leaves behind her lifelong companion, Brad Darr.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Christopher Yarbrough; her granddaughter, Paige Buxton; and her former husband, Ira Yarbrough.
Mary proudly pursued her education, graduating from high school and later earning college degrees in Art, Theatre and Education (BA, BS, MA). She enjoyed her work that included Bus Driver for Charleston School District, owner operator of The Milestone – a shop that sold treasures to the local community, co-owner of Coles County Painting and Decorating with Brad Darr, costumer for University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, and as an instructor at Eastern Illinois University in the Theatre Department.
A devoted animal lover, Mary maintained a small animal rescue in her home beginning in the 1970s, a testament to her compassion and lifelong commitment to caring for others. She had a deep love for antiques, rummage sales, and thrift stores, often sourcing items for The Milestone. Theatre was a true passion of Mary’s, encompassing all aspects from teaching and children’s theatre to costuming and customization. She also found joy in music and photography, especially capturing the beauty of flowers, nature, and animals.
Mary will be remembered as a loving, caring, and supportive presence in the lives of those who knew her. Her kindness, creativity, and childlike curiosity left a lasting impression and will be fondly remembered.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on April 4, 2026, at the Charleston Lake Pavilion in Charleston, Illinois.
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