Douglas Alan Yarbrough (70) was born on March 1, 1956 in LaGrange, Georgia, which he hated because it meant he wasn’t a Texan. He passed away on May 4, 2026 in Panama City Beach, Florida, which he probably also hated because, again, not Texas.

Raised in Channelview and then Coldspring, he was a jack of all trades: mechanic, deputy sheriff, tow truck driver, vice president of a bank, manager of a ranch, and chief of staff, to name a few. His most important roles, in my opinion, were husband to Sharon; dad to Todd and Alyssa-the one writing this; GrandDoug to Thomas, Hayden, Fiona, and Juniper; and brother to Don.

In his 70 years he lived a lot of lives. From jeep jamborees with Corkey Page to beach vacations to fish with Jesse Todd to dive trips with us pretending to look for sunken treasures, he lived.

Anyone who knew my dad knew his love for John Wayne, a man’s man, and I think this quote is something my dad would appreciate, because it’s the way he lived.

“Life is getting up one more time than you’ve been knocked down.” ― John Wayne

My dad got knocked down a lot, and until now, he always got back up. In 1995, when he was 39, (even though the local paper said he was 40-that pissed him off), he was shot in his brachial plexus and survival was touch and go for a bit, but survive he did. He lost a lot of use in his right arm, but that did not slow him down for long. He had grit and determination and a friend and physical therapist in Bea Ellis who had pink one pound weights that Dad could not lift when he started his road to recovery. He hated those things, Bea.

After years of physical therapy and always being first in line in the car riders pick up line, he went back to work.

From 1998-2004, he worked with and for Dan Ellis on his campaigns for State Representative for House District 18. He loved that; the politics and the people.

Late in 2004, he moved from Coldspring to Panama City Beach where he and my brother rebuilt his and mom’s house after Hurricane Ivan rudely destroyed it. Dad would tell you those were some of the best moments, working and spending time with Todd. Dad enjoyed it so much that he kept working with Todd by helping to keep the books at a local dive shop.

After that, it was metal detecting with Ronnie Campbell, or as his friends called him, Tarzan, trolling for Spanish mackerel and visiting pawn shops with Don, and buying gold and silver. Dad loved a hunt, he loved stuff, and he loved a deal.

He leaves behind his wife Sharon, his son Todd (Patti), his daughter me (Ben), his grandkids (Thomas, Hayden, Fiona, and Juniper), his brother Don (Sheila), his brother-in-law Richard (Sally), his nieces Paige (Bradley) and Jessie (James), his nephew Justin (Jordon), his great niece (Jemma) and nephews (Beau and Phineas), and his friends of only some who were mentioned here. He is preceded in death by his father Clarence Reese Yarbrough and his mother Doris Jewell Yarbrough.

No one teaches you how you’re supposed to end these things, there’s always more that could be said, but I will end it like this, “Only Texas could turn defeat into a legend.” -Rosemary Kent

In lieu of flowers, I ask that you consider donating to a cause that my dad would care about: Donate — Crusty Crab Diving https://crustycrabdiving.org/donate

Crusty Crab Diving is a non-profit organization right here in Panama City Beach that offers scuba diving to those with diverse abilities.