John Dodson Yarbrough, retired rancher and businessman, loving husband, father, grandfather, and good friend, passed from this life on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was 81. John's life was marked by his love for his family, for people, and for the Lord.
John was born on Nov 27,1935 in El Paso, Texas to John T. and Helen Yarbrough. John's father rode a motorcycle and sidecar for the Texas Highway Patrol. John and his parents moved to Las Cruces at the end of World War II. In 1949 he become one of the youngest Eagle Scouts in the nation, and in 1953 he graduated from Las Cruces Union High. It was during his early teen years that he became a cowboy and developed a lifelong love for Hereford cattle and the ranching life. He worked for local ranchers A.B. and Hal Cox for many years and developed a lifelong friendship with the Cox family. While a student in the 1950's at New Mexico A&M, he was on the rodeo and cattle judging teams, and traveled the United Stated. John was also in ROTC. He graduated from New Mexico A&M (now NMSU) in 1958 with a bachelor degree in Animal Husbandry. But Uncle Sam had other plans for John and in 1958 he was invited to join the United States Army, where he served with honor as a Staff Sergeant in active duty and the reserves until 1964. He was recalled to active duty service during the Cuban crisis, where he was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. Following the death of his uncle, Wesley Martin, he joined his aunt Lucile Martin in running Wesley Martin Oil Co., the Shell Oil jobber, here in Las Cruces. John became president of the company in 1982, and John became one of the nation's most prominent Shell jobbers. John continued running cattle in the La Queva up in the Organ Mountains during the 1960's.
In March 1979 he married Mary Frances Yarbrough and they were married for 38 year years. He served on the first board of directors of the Citizens Bank of Las Cruces, and his service continued for 12 years. He resigned in 1988 after he had returned
to full time ranching south of Hillsboro, New Mexico with his wife Mary. Together they ranched for twelve years, which were the happiest times of their lives. After retiring from ranching John and Mary returned to Las Cruces to enjoy retirement and to spend time traveling the world. In 1981 he was elected President of the New Mexico Petroleum Marketers Association where he served two terms. In 1994 the governor appointed John to the New Mexico Beef Council in 1994, and was elected chairman and served two consecutive terms. In 1996 he was appointed by governor to the foundation board when the idea was first conceived to build the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum. After the museum was founded he continued to serve as a docent the remainder of his life. He donated some of his cowboy regalia to the museum including two longhorn steers, Yankee Doodle and Big Red, whose trophy heads greet all visitors upon entry to the museum.
John's survivors include his wife Mary, his children: son Paul (Anise) of Evergreen, Colorado, daughter Deanna Duva (Robin) of Plano Texas, daughter Susan Payne of Coventry, Connecticut, daughter Laura Bullock of Las Cruces, and son Michael Mulliniks (Jen) of Albuquerque NM. John was also blessed with nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by Katie Hillelson, mother of Paul and Deanna. John is preceded in death by his parents John T. and Helen of Las Cruces ,son-in-law Billy Bullock and great granddaughter Remi Bullock.
There will be a private graveside service followed by a public memorial service at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, corner of Solano and Bowman Ave. To sign our local online guestbook, please log onto www.GetzCares.com
Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on July 16, 2017
John was born on Nov 27,1935 in El Paso, Texas to John T. and Helen Yarbrough. John's father rode a motorcycle and sidecar for the Texas Highway Patrol. John and his parents moved to Las Cruces at the end of World War II. In 1949 he become one of the youngest Eagle Scouts in the nation, and in 1953 he graduated from Las Cruces Union High. It was during his early teen years that he became a cowboy and developed a lifelong love for Hereford cattle and the ranching life. He worked for local ranchers A.B. and Hal Cox for many years and developed a lifelong friendship with the Cox family. While a student in the 1950's at New Mexico A&M, he was on the rodeo and cattle judging teams, and traveled the United Stated. John was also in ROTC. He graduated from New Mexico A&M (now NMSU) in 1958 with a bachelor degree in Animal Husbandry. But Uncle Sam had other plans for John and in 1958 he was invited to join the United States Army, where he served with honor as a Staff Sergeant in active duty and the reserves until 1964. He was recalled to active duty service during the Cuban crisis, where he was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. Following the death of his uncle, Wesley Martin, he joined his aunt Lucile Martin in running Wesley Martin Oil Co., the Shell Oil jobber, here in Las Cruces. John became president of the company in 1982, and John became one of the nation's most prominent Shell jobbers. John continued running cattle in the La Queva up in the Organ Mountains during the 1960's.
In March 1979 he married Mary Frances Yarbrough and they were married for 38 year years. He served on the first board of directors of the Citizens Bank of Las Cruces, and his service continued for 12 years. He resigned in 1988 after he had returned
to full time ranching south of Hillsboro, New Mexico with his wife Mary. Together they ranched for twelve years, which were the happiest times of their lives. After retiring from ranching John and Mary returned to Las Cruces to enjoy retirement and to spend time traveling the world. In 1981 he was elected President of the New Mexico Petroleum Marketers Association where he served two terms. In 1994 the governor appointed John to the New Mexico Beef Council in 1994, and was elected chairman and served two consecutive terms. In 1996 he was appointed by governor to the foundation board when the idea was first conceived to build the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum. After the museum was founded he continued to serve as a docent the remainder of his life. He donated some of his cowboy regalia to the museum including two longhorn steers, Yankee Doodle and Big Red, whose trophy heads greet all visitors upon entry to the museum.
John's survivors include his wife Mary, his children: son Paul (Anise) of Evergreen, Colorado, daughter Deanna Duva (Robin) of Plano Texas, daughter Susan Payne of Coventry, Connecticut, daughter Laura Bullock of Las Cruces, and son Michael Mulliniks (Jen) of Albuquerque NM. John was also blessed with nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by Katie Hillelson, mother of Paul and Deanna. John is preceded in death by his parents John T. and Helen of Las Cruces ,son-in-law Billy Bullock and great granddaughter Remi Bullock.
There will be a private graveside service followed by a public memorial service at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, corner of Solano and Bowman Ave. To sign our local online guestbook, please log onto www.GetzCares.com
Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on July 16, 2017
John Dodson Yarbrough, retired rancher and businessman, loving husband, father, grandfather, and good friend, passed from this life on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was 81. John's life was marked by his love for his family, for people, and for the Lord.
John was born on Nov 27,1935 in El Paso, Texas to John T. and Helen Yarbrough. John's father rode a motorcycle and sidecar for the Texas Highway Patrol. John and his parents moved to Las Cruces at the end of World War II. In 1949 he become one of the youngest Eagle Scouts in the nation, and in 1953 he graduated from Las Cruces Union High. It was during his early teen years that he became a cowboy and developed a lifelong love for Hereford cattle and the ranching life. He worked for local ranchers A.B. and Hal Cox for many years and developed a lifelong friendship with the Cox family. While a student in the 1950's at New Mexico A&M, he was on the rodeo and cattle judging teams, and traveled the United Stated. John was also in ROTC. He graduated from New Mexico A&M (now NMSU) in 1958 with a bachelor degree in Animal Husbandry. But Uncle Sam had other plans for John and in 1958 he was invited to join the United States Army, where he served with honor as a Staff Sergeant in active duty and the reserves until 1964. He was recalled to active duty service during the Cuban crisis, where he was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. Following the death of his uncle, Wesley Martin, he joined his aunt Lucile Martin in running Wesley Martin Oil Co., the Shell Oil jobber, here in Las Cruces. John became president of the company in 1982, and John became one of the nation's most prominent Shell jobbers. John continued running cattle in the La Queva up in the Organ Mountains during the 1960's.
In March 1979 he married Mary Frances Yarbrough and they were married for 38 year years. He served on the first board of directors of the Citizens Bank of Las Cruces, and his service continued for 12 years. He resigned in 1988 after he had returned
to full time ranching south of Hillsboro, New Mexico with his wife Mary. Together they ranched for twelve years, which were the happiest times of their lives. After retiring from ranching John and Mary returned to Las Cruces to enjoy retirement and to spend time traveling the world. In 1981 he was elected President of the New Mexico Petroleum Marketers Association where he served two terms. In 1994 the governor appointed John to the New Mexico Beef Council in 1994, and was elected chairman and served two consecutive terms. In 1996 he was appointed by governor to the foundation board when the idea was first conceived to build the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum. After the museum was founded he continued to serve as a docent the remainder of his life. He donated some of his cowboy regalia to the museum including two longhorn steers, Yankee Doodle and Big Red, whose trophy heads greet all visitors upon entry to the museum.
John's survivors include his wife Mary, his children: son Paul (Anise) of Evergreen, Colorado, daughter Deanna Duva (Robin) of Plano Texas, daughter Susan Payne of Coventry, Connecticut, daughter Laura Bullock of Las Cruces, and son Michael Mulliniks (Jen) of Albuquerque NM. John was also blessed with nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by Katie Hillelson, mother of Paul and Deanna. John is preceded in death by his parents John T. and Helen of Las Cruces ,son-in-law Billy Bullock and great granddaughter Remi Bullock.
There will be a private graveside service followed by a public memorial service at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, corner of Solano and Bowman Ave. To sign our local online guestbook, please log onto www.GetzCares.com
Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on July 16, 2017
John was born on Nov 27,1935 in El Paso, Texas to John T. and Helen Yarbrough. John's father rode a motorcycle and sidecar for the Texas Highway Patrol. John and his parents moved to Las Cruces at the end of World War II. In 1949 he become one of the youngest Eagle Scouts in the nation, and in 1953 he graduated from Las Cruces Union High. It was during his early teen years that he became a cowboy and developed a lifelong love for Hereford cattle and the ranching life. He worked for local ranchers A.B. and Hal Cox for many years and developed a lifelong friendship with the Cox family. While a student in the 1950's at New Mexico A&M, he was on the rodeo and cattle judging teams, and traveled the United Stated. John was also in ROTC. He graduated from New Mexico A&M (now NMSU) in 1958 with a bachelor degree in Animal Husbandry. But Uncle Sam had other plans for John and in 1958 he was invited to join the United States Army, where he served with honor as a Staff Sergeant in active duty and the reserves until 1964. He was recalled to active duty service during the Cuban crisis, where he was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. Following the death of his uncle, Wesley Martin, he joined his aunt Lucile Martin in running Wesley Martin Oil Co., the Shell Oil jobber, here in Las Cruces. John became president of the company in 1982, and John became one of the nation's most prominent Shell jobbers. John continued running cattle in the La Queva up in the Organ Mountains during the 1960's.
In March 1979 he married Mary Frances Yarbrough and they were married for 38 year years. He served on the first board of directors of the Citizens Bank of Las Cruces, and his service continued for 12 years. He resigned in 1988 after he had returned
to full time ranching south of Hillsboro, New Mexico with his wife Mary. Together they ranched for twelve years, which were the happiest times of their lives. After retiring from ranching John and Mary returned to Las Cruces to enjoy retirement and to spend time traveling the world. In 1981 he was elected President of the New Mexico Petroleum Marketers Association where he served two terms. In 1994 the governor appointed John to the New Mexico Beef Council in 1994, and was elected chairman and served two consecutive terms. In 1996 he was appointed by governor to the foundation board when the idea was first conceived to build the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum. After the museum was founded he continued to serve as a docent the remainder of his life. He donated some of his cowboy regalia to the museum including two longhorn steers, Yankee Doodle and Big Red, whose trophy heads greet all visitors upon entry to the museum.
John's survivors include his wife Mary, his children: son Paul (Anise) of Evergreen, Colorado, daughter Deanna Duva (Robin) of Plano Texas, daughter Susan Payne of Coventry, Connecticut, daughter Laura Bullock of Las Cruces, and son Michael Mulliniks (Jen) of Albuquerque NM. John was also blessed with nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by Katie Hillelson, mother of Paul and Deanna. John is preceded in death by his parents John T. and Helen of Las Cruces ,son-in-law Billy Bullock and great granddaughter Remi Bullock.
There will be a private graveside service followed by a public memorial service at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, corner of Solano and Bowman Ave. To sign our local online guestbook, please log onto www.GetzCares.com
Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on July 16, 2017
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