Mary “Pat” Yarber, of New Port Richey, Florida sadly passed away on June 22, 2022, after a prolonged struggle with cancer. Since she was in the middle of her recovery, her death was unexpected for family and friends.

Born on January 26, 1943, to Edwin A. Harmon and Muriel M. Harmon (Zilm) in Flushing, New York, Pat began her life as a true “New Yorker.” She spent her early childhood in Great Neck, Long Island with her mother and grandmother, Molly McNulty. By 1951the Harmon family permanently moved to Miami, Florida, where Pat shared many adventures with her sister, Peg. She spent most of her academic years in Catholic school and had many fond memories of St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Augustine, Florida. Pat was always proud of graduating from the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine and visited there frequently throughout her years. Her visits included “boarding school” reunions with many of her lifelong friends.

Upon high school graduation Pat attended Duke University in North Carolina to complete her degree as an EEG Technician. She returned to Miami to pursue her LPN degree at Miami Dade College in 1970. She was a full-time student and mother to Jennifer while completing her LPN degree.

She met her true love and future husband, Stephen A. Yarber at a crisis center in Miami. They married on May 26, 1972, at the Dolphin Project in Key Biscayne, Florida. Shortly after their wedding, they moved to New Port Richey, Florida where Pat worked as a nurse at Community Hospital. In 1975 Matthew was born at the same hospital and he completed the Yarber family.

With Pat’s husband rejoining the US Army in 1975 the military provided many moving adventures to numerous places, including Oklahoma, Virginia, Georgia, Panama, and Germany. She thoroughly enjoyed her life as an Army wife making many friends along the way and considered them her “military family.”

While an Army wife, Pat returned to Florida to pursue her RN degree at Pasco Hernando State College in New Port Richey. She achieved her goal of becoming an RN and graduated in 1980. Her degree always provided her with employment opportunities during her travels. Pat has worked as an ICU nurse, home health care nurse, school nurse, and American Red Cross nurse, and an opportunity to return to her Alma mater as a laboratory nurse instructor.

She officially retired from PHSC in 2006; however, she worked as an adjunct from 2007 – 2009. She really loved working with students and hearing about their successful nursing stories through the years. Pat thoroughly enjoyed retirement…spending time with her grandson, Deacon, having endless cups of coffee with her sister, Peg, traveling with family and friends, playing weekly card games with the girls, and attending the monthly meetings hosted by the Millpond Book Club.

Pat is survived by her daughter, Jennifer (Tony) Sorenson, her sister, Peg Carter, and Matthew’s son, Deacon Yarber. She is preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Yarber, and son, Matthew Yarber.

The memorial service for Mary “Pat” Yarber will be on Saturday, July 9, 2022, at 11 am at Dobie’s Funeral Home, 6616 Congress Street, New Port Richey, Florida 34652 with a brunch at Millpond Clubhouse, 7729 Morningdale Drive, New Port Richey, Florida 34653 following the service. A mass will be held in Pat’s honor on Monday, July 11, 2022, at 11 am at Saint Michael The Archangel Catholic Church, 8012 State Road 52, Hudson, Florida 34667.

In lieu of flowers (and Pat loved her flowers) please consider donating to Planned Parenthood. Thank you.