Routh Ann Yarbrough

Routh Ann Yarbrough, 73 of Fayetteville, AR, passed away on February 17, 2026, at the Willard Walker Hospice House in Fayetteville, AR. She was born December 4, 1952, in Springfield, MO, to Donald Raney and Carolyn (Wagley) Raney.

She was a retired registrar for Fayetteville High School and a member of Cross Church Springdale.

Routh Ann had several jobs in her life, all centered around serving people, often by keeping them in line, even when they didn't know it. She worked with the U of A housing department, helping college students feel at home at Reid Hall, a job she loved for many years. She worked in the Fayetteville resource library, ordering and organizing every library book that came into the school system. She ended her working career as the registrar for Fayetteville High School, keeping track of hundreds of students as they entered the doors of the High School.

She grew up in the First United Methodist Church of Harrison and attended Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville for most of her adult life. In 2015, she became a member at Cross Church of Springdale where she was baptized. She had a close friendship with her Sunday School teachers, Larry and Becky Chapman, who frequently checked in on her throughout her last few years of life.

Routh Ann was a woman born in the wrong time period. A better athlete than most boys, she unfortunately grew up in a time when women's sports did not exist. Many stories have been told of football games in the front yard with her three older brothers and a distinct ponytail sticking out of one helmet.

But she used her love for sports to coach the inaugural 3-3 High School girls basketball team in Alpena, AR, after graduating from college.

She played competitive slow-pitch softball for decades, playing well into her 40s. She was the pitcher who could drop the ball on a dime, and she had her signature 'tommy hawk' swing at the plate. Softball was a family affair with her son, Kyle, keeping books and running bat boy, and her daughter, Keely, growing from a pinch runner into playing left field.

She was a lover of the beach, dip net always in hand, forever in search of the next sand dollar. The beach meant family to her. For many years, her brothers and their families would all meet in Gulf Shores to spend a week together, and it was the highlight of her year.

If there was one thing to know about Routh Ann, it was her love for Dalmatian dogs. She grew up with Dalmatians and carried that love forward to her own family. The Yarbroughs always had a Dalmatian dog, if not two, at any given point in time.

Later in life, she started riding Harley Davidson motorcycles and found a community with the Ladies of Harley group here in Northwest Arkansas.

Her best role in life, though, was that of being a grandmother, and it was sadly cut too short. However, her time with her grandkids was memorable as they frequently reminisce about milkshakes from Braums, picnics at Gulley Park, and visits to Silver Dollar City.

She is survived by her daughter, Keely Spicer and her husband Rick of Fayetteville, AR; one son Kyle Yarbrough and his wife, Natalie of Fayetteville, AR; three brothers, George (Brenda) Pickard of Maryville, TN; Joe (Vicky) Pickard of Flower Mound, TX; Paul (Cathy) Raney of Searcy, AR; and four grandchildren, Rylan and Laurel Spicer, and Jaxon and Deeks Yarbrough.

A Celebration of her Life will be held February 28, 2026 at 11:00am at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville with Rev. Larry Chapman officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to

Cash app $Routhann

Venmo @Keely-Spicer

All proceeds will go to Clear Creek Memory Center staff as a thank you for their care over the years. If not then please donate to your local church or animal shelter on her behalf.