Nicole Yarbrough

Mariya Nicole Yarbrough was born March 4, 1991, in St. Petersburg, Russia. She passed away from this world on February 13, 2025, in Hickory Creek, Texas.

Nicole’s early years were spent in the economic and cultural upheaval of the former Soviet Union. At age six she was placed into the state orphanage system and resided in Orphanage Number 60 in St. Petersburg until she was fourteen. She was educated at the orphanage school, received musical and dance instruction, and performed in the orphanage music and dance troupe in St. Petersburg and other parts of Russia.

In Summer 2004, Buckner International Adoption in Dallas sponsored an “Angels from Abroad” program which placed children from Russian orphanages into the homes of American host families for a two-week period. As a result of that program, Jim and Susan Yarbrough were led by God to adopt Nicole on July 13, 2005, and brought her to live with them in Plano, Texas.

Nicole became a treasured daughter to her parents and a beloved sibling to older sister Kelly and younger brother Andrew. She took piano lessons, danced in a lively Christian hip-hop dance group, sang in school choir, and participated in youth activities at Chase Oaks Church, including a mission trip to Mexico.

The family did fun family trips to Colorado, Wyoming, Arkansas, Georgia, and Washington, DC. Nicole put up with Dad-taught driver training, with her mom insisting she practice her English by ordering at restaurants, and with all the nagging things little brothers do to their sisters. Early on, Nicole was also a lover of all thing’s cars and trucks, even to the point of her father nicknaming her “Mashinka,” meaning “little car” in Russian. While in Plano public schools, Nicole was tireless in working a variety of part-time jobs and greatly appreciated the American economic system which enabled people to prosper financially. She graduated from Plano Senior High School in 2010 and then attended Collin College in Plano and the University of North Texas in Denton.

Nicole was a lover of animals even before she received additional training and worked as a veterinary technician at a Plano veterinary clinic. She so enjoyed helping treat and restore animals to good health and in serving their owners. Later she worked as an account representative and then in the restaurant business.

She was a fresh and enthusiastic personality with a wonderful bright-eyed smile – a glowing light who illuminated any room.

Nicole leaves behind parents Jim and Susan Yarbrough, sister Kelly Yarbrough, and brother Andrew Yarbrough. Also surviving her is her aunt in St. Petersburg, Elena Rozanova, who selflessly ministered to and cared for Nicole while she lived in the orphanage. Also surviving are her uncle and aunt, Dan and Paula Hall of Aledo, maternal grandmother Nancy Hall of Plano, and several American cousins and a Russian cousin. Nicole leaves many friends from her work venues, who greatly valued her warm friendship.

Particular appreciation and love go to Mike Douris, Amy Norton, Debbie Wynne, Phil and Beth Brinkmeyer, Natasha Votyakova, Sharon Hedrick, and Irina Young, who facilitated Nicole’s adoption and played such a crucial role in the happiness and security that Nicole experienced. And a special thank you to the many Buckner International Adoption families of Russian children in North Texas, who were and remain such a blessed, loving, and highly supportive community themselves.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate Nicole’s life at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Allen Family Funeral Options, officiated by Robert Matthews.  If you wish to join the service via webcast, please visit https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/109887

Nicole has been laid to rest at Pecan Grove Cemetery, McKinney, Texas.

If desired, contributions may be made in Nicole's name to honor her love of animals to: www.hsnt.org