Thais Dawn Yarbrough

Dec 24, 1928 -

Mar 5, 2026

Dawn Yarbrough (Thais Dawn Yarbrough) passed away on March 5, 2026, at Baxter Senior Living, her home for the last four years. Dawn was born on Dec. 24, 1928, in Oakland, Calif. She was a fifth generation Californian.

In 1951, she married Arthur Frank Yarbrough, an Air Force sergeant in Reno, Nev. As an Air Force wife, she moved to bases in Illinois, Florida, South Carolina, California and Washington. They were stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in 1955, surviving the 1964 earthquake, while her kids were running outside to see cars jumping and waves in the earth. Upon retirement from the Air Force, they built their dream log home in Chugiak, Alaska, where she lived for 53 years. Like so many who come to Alaska, she never expected to stay.

Dawn was a wonderful, dedicated housewife and seamstress, sewing clothes for her family and military friends. She worked part time jobs at Fuji Gifts and Discount Fabric in Spenard to help support her family.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Frank Yarbrough; daughters, Charmine Yarbrough and Denise Felchlin; and grandson, Shilo Jenkins.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Lane and Linda Yarbrough; and grandkids, Jill Sowerwine and Frank Yarbrough.