Bessie L. Yarbor, 98, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
She was born on September 11, 1928, in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, the third of five children to Glen Oscar Barber and Lucinda Mae (Mason) Barber. She married Rev. John Wesley Yarbor on October 30, 1948, with whom she had two sons, Wesley Martin and John William. She attended Central Bible College in Springfield, MO and Wabash Valley Junior College in Mt. Carmel. She was a homemaker and pastor’s wife. She worked a summer at the Walnut Diner and for five years as a telephone operator for GTE. She also volunteered at the Wabash County Senior Center, Bridges of Hope Food Ministry, and Heartland Worship Center. She was a member of the Heartland Worship Center. She also attended the Ridge Baptist Church in Grayville, Illinois and the Mt. Carmel Free Methodist Church.
The most important things in her life were knowing Jesus as her Lord and Savior, family, love for country and doing for others. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be remembered as the family historian, for her knowledge of the Bible and her volunteer work. She will be remembered by many as Sister Bessie and especially for the greeting cards. Beginning at the age of 96, she made over 1,500 hand drawn greeting cards for relatives, children, shut-ins and others.
She was proceeded in death by her parents; her husband of 70 years, Rev. John Yarbor; brothers, Roy Oscar Barber, William George Barber, John Edward Barber and Ross Franklin Barber.
She is survived by sons, Wesley (Cindy) Yarbor of Mt. Carmel, Illinois and John (Teresa) Yarbor of Bloomfield, Indiana; grandsons, John A. Yarbor of Bloomfield, Indiana and Alex (Kyra) Yarbor of Martinsville, Indiana; great-granddaughter, Josephine Yarbor; sister-in-law, Loree Barber of Princeton, Indiana and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family extends a special thanks to Danita Phillips, Erin Broedel and Tonya and Mike Bobbitt for their help in caring for our mom.
Visitation will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Heartland Worship Center.
Funeral Services for Bessie will be Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Heartland Worship Center with Pastor Tony Hodgson officiating.
She will be laid to rest beside her husband, John at Highland Memorial Cemetery with Pastor Bill Reed officiating the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Bessie’s honor may be made to the Wabash County Senior Center or to your favorite charity. Envelopes will be available at Short-Cunningham Funeral Home.
Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com
Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve the Yarbor family.
