Tommy Dare Yarbrough

Tommy Dare Yarbrough was born on July 10, 1949 at the old Hominy Hospital. He grew up surrounded by the love of his close family, aunts, uncles and cousins. His childhood was spent on the land of his grandfathers and father on horseback or running through the fields, streams and woods that resonate in his family. He attended Wildhorse School and later went to high school at Prue. He was academically gifted, played volleyball, baseball and basketball. He graduated from Prue in 1967. In 1975, he graduated from University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. His earned his Masters of Science in Accounting also at the University of Tulsa in 1982 and he became a Certified Public Accountant shortly after.
His working career started at the Breene, later Arrowhead, Ranch. He was a school bus driver, and later worked at the Box Factory in Sand Springs, and then nights at Quick Trip while in school. After he graduated from TU, he worked at Stanford and O'Dell in Tulsa then at Armco and Sheffield Steel in Sand Springs where he would be the executive vice president and CFO. He started his own family in Tulsa and later moved to Sand Springs. Eventually, he moved the family to Columbia, South Carolina after taking a position as controller for SMI Steel. His final employment was for Green Energy Oilfield Services where he held the position of controller in Fairfield, Texas.
Dare loved playing golf, mystery novels, friends and family. But mostly, he doted on his children, Aundrea and Christopher, for whom he always made time. He attended an endless number of recitals, games and activities for Chris and Aun. He coached basketball and taught his kids how to ride horses, work cattle, shoot baskets, throw a ball and golf. When his Dad retired, Dare decided Tom needed something to do, so he purchased cattle and he and Tom got the ranch in Wildhorse running again. Tom said he was thinking of going back to work so he could get some rest.
Dare was a quiet giant in spirit, but was full of warmth and laughter. He poured his heart into loving his family and nothing reduced him to a goofy smile like his granddaughters. His children never doubted that they were cherished and he loved his son and daughter-in-law like they were his own.
Dare was self-made, putting himself through school and working his way into a long, successful career. He had life-long friendships and stayed active the lives of his parents, sister, nephews, children and grandchildren. His presence will be deeply missed in the lives of all those who loved him.
Tommy Dare Yarbrough passed away the morning of April 13, 2015. Survivors are his mother Jennie Yarbrough of Prue, Oklahoma, daughter Aundrea Coates and her husband Steven of Midwest City, Oklahoma, Christopher Yarbrough and his wife Chaundra of Atlanta, Georgia; one sister Kaye Frazier and her husband Dan of Hominy, Oklahoma; two grandchildren Norah and Presley, nephews Kirk Frazier and his wife Raquel of Cleveland, Oklahoma and Derik Frazier of Prue, Oklahoma. Dare was preceded in death by his father Tom DeOwen Yarbrough, and a brother Bob Yarbrough.