William Clyde Yarbrough, Jr.

"Bill" • "Billy Clyde" • "The Green Thumb"

June 26, 1942 – April 20, 2026

Kingwood, Texas — William Clyde Yarbrough, Jr., known to some as Bill, to others as Billy Clyde, affectionately to fewer still as granddad, husband and dad, peacefully entered into eternity on April 20, 2026. He went to be with his Lord and Savior, and we are certain he was joyfully greeted by a loyal pack of wagging tails and purring friends waiting for him in Heaven. He leaves behind a profound legacy of quiet abiding devotion to his faith, an unyielding work ethic, and a deep love and kindness that touched everyone who crossed his path.

Bill's journey began on June 26, 1942, in Cooter, Missouri, under memorable circumstances. As he described, his grandfather, Russell, hit a mule on the way to the hospital; the mule's last day on this earth became Bill's very first. Born to William Clyde Yarbrough, Sr., a hardworking sharecropper and mover, and Lottie Moody Yarbrough, a homemaker and packer, Bill grew up in the soil of the Missouri cotton fields alongside his beloved siblings. The family bonds were tight, as Bill's father married Lottie, and his uncle Roy married Lottie's sister, June—creating a tight-knit web of "kissing cousins" across the Moody and Yarbrough families. Bill spent his formative years in California's Central Valley before returning to his roots in the South.

A proud 1960 graduate of Caruthersville High School, Bill was an exceptional student and enthusiastic FFA member, winning numerous awards for his prize pigs and chickens. He went on to become the first in his family to graduate from college, excelling in his studies at the School of the Ozarks and University of Arkansas, Fayetteville — where he participated in work programs and served as a hospital orderly to pay for college — and later earning his degree in Agriculture and Business from the U of A. For Bill, life-long education and hard work always went hand-in-hand.

Though he began his professional career as a dedicated and talented county agent, Bill soon heeded the call when his father needed help running the family moving business. This marked the beginning of his life as a lifelong mover, hauler, packer, and dispatcher. Work was truly Bill's love language. Some of his happiest memories were spent working alongside his wife, son and siblings. In a beautiful fulfillment of a life's career, he spent his final working years sitting at the next desk to his sister Brenda and working side-by-side with his brother Russell. Bill was a compassionate employer who treated his crew like family frequently keeping workers busy through the lean winter months, knowing the busy summer rush would always return.

A deeply private but profoundly devout follower of Jesus, Bill lived his faith through quiet actions and deep reflection. Mornings at 4:30 AM, well before the sun came up, Bill could be found reading his daily devotional, The Upper Room, and carefully marking passages in his Bible before heading off to work. This continued throughout his life and served as a source of strength and purpose. He served faithfully as a long-time Deacon and accountant at Trinity Baptist Church in Blytheville, Arkansas, anchoring his life in the truth of scripture and a spirit of service.

Outside of his faith and family, Bill was a true cultivator and husbandman at heart. An avid gardener with an encyclopedic knowledge of plants, bugs, soil chemistry, and irrigation, he grew the finest okra, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers in the state of Arkansas. His legendary skill earned him his CB radio handle, "The Green Thumb" – which he shared proudly. For Bill, time on his riding John Deere mower with a faithful dog sitting right beside him, a pocket radio tucked firmly into the front bib of his overalls, and an earpiece in to catch the noon Paul Harvey report and "The Rest of the Story" was his ultimate form of meditation, reflection and worship. He was also a passionate Arkansas Razorbacks fan, famous for muting the television volume so he could listen to the "real" game broadcast and commentators over his radio.

As a consummate saver and natural fixer, Bill possessed a legendary resourcefulness. Like his dad, if a truck was fixable, he'd fix it. If it wasn't fixable, he would somehow still find a way to fix it. While his family enjoyed a rotation of Mustangs, Explorers, Jeeps, Beetles, Broncos and Blazers over the years, Bill contentedly drove only two ford pickups, both Ford rangers, his entire life, alongside his infamous "Green Bomb"—a 1973 Ford Maverick bought from his brother-in-law Sarge, complete with googly eyes on the mirror and an "ouch" sticker over an obvious dent. It wasn't fancy, but summer or winter, it always fired up.

Well above all his earthly accomplishments, Bill was a family man. He is survived by the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Linda Katheryn (Adkins) Yarbrough, whom he affectionately called "Little Lulu." Married in 1960, they shared 66 beautiful years as two peas in a pod—inseparable companions, lifelong teammates, and the truest of friends. In 1971, both their hearts expanded when they adopted their infant son, William Clyde (Trey) Yarbrough, III, from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Bill and Linda could not have been more proud parents and referred to their son as simply "life."

Trey grew up to work closely with his father in the moving company. It was a priceless partnership; Trey would often try to take over heavy tasks to relieve his dad, only to turn around and find Bill had quietly moved on to another chore. Masked as daily labor, those hours were actually sacred, irreplaceable life lessons on how to work hard, practice patience, and treat people with kindness, forgiveness, and respect. His son would later recall all the times, when leaving, Bill would always say "I love you and remember who you are." As youth does, the words didn't register completely, if at all, at first, but as they have resonated over these many years, he now understands their meaning and how much these simple words meant for the father to say and the son to hear. Few words can so eloquently sum up the love a father has for his son. And now, Trey is proud to report that as much as he misses his dad, that this memory, show of love and those words are received and will be passed on to his daughters.

Bill's gentle presence will be profoundly missed by his surviving family: his devoted wife, Linda; his proud son, Trey, and daughter-in-law, Whitney Yarbrough of Kingwood, Texas; his cherished granddaughters, Sadie Anna Yarbrough (Austin, Texas) and Ella Grace Yarbrough (Kingwood, Texas); his loving siblings, Dennis Franklin Yarbrough and his wife Susan and their daughter Aly  (Alexander, Arkansas); Russell Riley Yarbrough and his wife Beth, and sons Rusty and Will; Brenda Jean Sargent Yarbrough and her partner Bob Pearson (both of Little Rock, Arkansas), with whom he shared an unbreakable lifelong bond; his niece Paula Sarent and her husband Patrick of Little Rock, AR and Ralph Wilson Sides, Jr. and his wife Michelle  of Dyersburg, TN, whom he considered his children; and an extended circle of beloved cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and we comfort ourselves knowing he has reunited with his adored dogs, Buddy, Barney, Pepper, Trigger, Toby, and Lulu, and his cats, Kit-Kat, Pumpkin, and Momma Cat, beneath the shade of the lush foliage of the eternal garden. Bill Yarbrough was slow to anger, patient, and exceptionally kind. He will be sorely missed, but the seeds of love he planted will bloom for generations to come. We love you and lovingly remember who you were.