Linda Carol was born on the 23rd day of July, 1942, the second of six children to Trudet and Pearl Tomlinson at the home of her maternal grandparents, James Wesley and Marianne Almeda “Allie” Thomas, one and one-half miles east on the same road from the farm/ranch owned by her parents where she grew up. She attended the first through eighth grades at Parks Elementary Country School and graduated from Elmore City High School in 1960.
She was baptized while in high school at the First Baptist Church of Elmore City. She was a child of God and went to the arms of her Savior on September 1, 2024, after a battle with lung cancer.
She worked as a hairdresser with her sister Bonnie in Ada, and later they had the Cinderella Beauty Shop in Pauls Valley where she met the love of her life, Don Yarbrough. Linda and Don were married on the 23rd day of June, 1968, at Trinity Baptist Church, and immediately moved to Oklahoma City.
Linda changed professions to the oil and gas industry, working first with Thomas Engineering; then as the executive assistant to the president of Swan Petroleum, and lastly, provided contract services to Spinner Platt, Landman. She retired early to help care for her precious grandchildren and great-grandsons.
Linda loved being a sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. She attended as many of her family’s special events as possible and would always wish for more hours in the day so she could complete one more thing on her To Do List. As the matriarch of her family, after her mother and sister Bonnie’s deaths, she thoroughly enjoyed hosting, setting a beautiful dining table and preparing a wonderful meal. There wouldn’t be enough food if there weren’t plenty of leftovers for everyone!
Linda loved reading, cooking, quilting, scrapbooking, shopping, playing games, traveling and spending time with her many dear friends. She was active in Desk & Derrick, serving as its Rules Chairman and Secretary for many years. More recently, she was a member of Republican Women and the Edmond Quilt Guild. She was an active member of the Village Baptist Church for over 50 years before moving her membership to the Quail Springs Baptist Church.
Linda is survived by Don, her husband of more than 56 years; her sons, Corbin and wife Shantel (Bighead), and Chad and wife Carol (Bellinghausen); her grandsons, Bobby and wife Taylor (Whiteley), Braden and Braxton; her “favorite” granddaughter, Bailee; and her four great-grandsons, Cashel, Deegan, Lennox and Beaux; her sisters, Wilma Bettes Jones, and Patty and husband Tommy McKee; as well as many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Bonnie Burk Griffiths Garvin and Ruby Smith; and her brothers-in-law, Martin Osleger, H. B. Griffiths, Lee Bettes Jr. and David M. Jones, all of whom she loved dearly.
The Yarbrough family would like to acknowledge the many doctors, nurses and hospice professionals who cared for her, and extend their deepest gratitude to her niece, Kristen (McKee) Claydon, for the love, care and compassion she gave to Linda in her final days at home.
Our family also appreciates the community of Quail Springs Baptist Church, 14613 N. May Avenue, Oklahoma City, Okla., 73134, for the hospitality for her memorial service, which was held Friday, September 13, 2024. Go online at www.okcremation.com to leave a message to share your favorite memories and offer words of sympathy.
