Mary Elizabeth 'Beth' 'Whiz' Yarbro

September 5, 1941 – July 16, 2022

Mary Elizabeth “Beth” “Whiz” Yarbro passed away July 16, 2022. She was at home, surrounded by family.

Beth was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico on Sept. 5, 1941, to Tommy and Ellen (Jameson) Clements. She grew up in Carlsbad, graduating from Carlsbad High School in 1959. She then attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, graduating in 1964.

While in high school, she met the love of her life, Chuck Yarbro. They became high school sweethearts and married while attending NMSU in 1961. Their oldest child, Lisa, was born in Las Cruces in 1963. After graduation, they returned to Carlsbad for a brief time, before striking out on their life adventure by moving to Montana. Being from the desert of southern New Mexico, Beth delighted in the snow and the winter activities of Montana. Chuck Jr. was born in Dillon in 1968. From Montana, they moved to Nebraska, where Beth continued to make their house a home. Then the family moved to Oklahoma, deep in the heart of Osage County. Ben was born in Oklahoma in 1971. Life was sweet on the ranch. Beth loved being a ranch wife, although the family lived 23 miles from town. She was classroom mother and made many trips back and forth to town for football games, basketball games and band concerts. She always supported her kids in whatever they did.

In 1975, they made their final move to a town in Washington called Moses Lake. When they moved to the farm, Beth found joy taking care of livestock, changing hand lines and the many other chores that make up a rural lifestyle. She was active as a 4-H leader when the kids were showing livestock and was always there to support them at the shows. She and Chuck also made many trips to watch the boys play football or wrestle. She again made the house a home and was constantly willing to help the kids get anything they needed for their activities. She always had great pride in her family. The family enjoyed numerous camping/hunting trips, many of which included horses and mules. Beth and Chuck were fantastic dancers and were very willing chaperons for all the youth dances at high school, Block 40 Building and other locations. We learned from and with them.

In 1984, Beth and Chuck formed Chuck Yarbro Auctioneers, and it burst on the agricultural scene. Chuck implemented new marketing techniques to sell farm equipment; Mom found ways in the background to help support and make it successful. It was the ’80s and high interest and low commodity prices were taking their toll on the Columbia Basin, but Beth and Chuck rolled up their sleeves and went to work to help. With the newfound marketing and presentation ideas, Dad found dollars where others didn’t. This translated to more dollars for encumbered sellers and more equity for those that were hanging on and trying to stay in business. Beth typed many flawless, professional appraisals on a typewriter, and later computer, helping to keep farms and businesses to stay afloat for more years to come, allowing owners to retire in their time instead of being forced out. Family farms were saved for the next generation. Beth spent many hours performing multiple “behind-the-scenes” jobs that are required with a family-owned business: advertising, mailings, appraisals, sale office, et cetera. There was always room for the kids and then the grandkids to work and be around their Mom/Nana and witness the work ethic and commitment to doing all things right, which built many happy memories with family and friends. They also jointly raised millions of dollars at auction for local charities. After putting in a day selling and collecting money for a client, they would attend one of many local charity auction events, Chuck selling and Beth clerking or helping work the cashiering table, collecting funds. They were always together; very seldom did you see one without the other. Beth donated hundreds of hours making and updating the booster thank-you boards at the Grant County Fair Livestock Auction. Our family has conducted that auction for 40-plus years.

Beth became a grandmother in 1987 and she relished that role. Six more grandchildren would be born, and she loved them dearly. She was Nana to them and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for them. The arrival of her first two great-grandchildren in 2015 thrilled her, as did the births of three more. Beth loved being a grandmother and was a natural!

In 1998, Beth was in an accident that changed her life and the lives of her family forever. Now a paraplegic, she fought hard to regain as much of her life as she could. She returned to the auction company, went to the multitude of activities of her grandchildren and never faltered in her mission to be the good mom and nana she had always been.

Her family is immensely proud of the impact she made on our community and her love for the people who live here. Beth loved art, cooking, time with family, watching her children and grandchildren excel in all things and family traditions, even if that tradition was just filling the house with 20 people. She has been such an integral part of their lives that they aren’t sure how they are going to fill her role.

Beth is survived by her loving husband of 60-plus years Chuck Yarbro Sr. and her children Lisa (Todd) Barth, Chuck (Sara) and Ben. She is also survived by her dearly-loved grandchildren, Andy (Jerry) Barth, Christine (Jason) Barrom, Jake (Laine) Barth, Riggs Yarbro, Chelsea (Jordan Garrett) Yarbro, Seth Yarbro and Anna (Jeffrey) Holm. Completing her family are great-grandchildren Adalyn and Kelby Barth, Eden and Bowen Barrom and Jax Barth. She was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter-in-law, Valerie.

Celebration of Life will be Aug. 6 at 11 a.m. at the Commercial Building, Grant County Fairgrounds, with a Fellowship Meal following service. If so desired, please come with a story or thought to share with family!

Mom was on the board of directors at Crossroads for a period in her life and this ministry was close to heart. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center, 1555 S. Pilgrim St., Moses Lake, WA 98837 or go to pregnancywa.org and click on the “donate” button.

Your wings were ready, but we weren’t.