Yvonne Horrell

6 January, 1951 - 28 April, 2023

Yvonne is the proud mother of sons Neil and John and the wife of husband Dave. Neil is 44, John 42 and Yvonne and Dave's marriage lasted 48 wonderful years. Neil and wife Veronica have two children, Kaya and Jayden and John has sons Cohen, Keegan and daughter Rozlynn.

Yvonne is preceded in death by her parents George and Marion Dibbo and her older brother, Peter.

Her younger brother Mike lives in Yorkshire, England with wife Jenny together with their extended family.

Yvonne loved to cook, knit, crochet, needlepoint and grow vegetable and flower gardens. She took great delight in teaching two of the grandkids, Keegan and Rozlynn, how to plant flowers and vegetables and then harvest the produce for the dinner table. She also taught them how to use a sewing machine safely and properly. She also enjoyed the community of the Freeport First Free Methodist Church where, even though she and Dave were 'outsiders' the welcome was always warm, friendly and spiritually uplifting. Upon graduation from high school Yvonne joined the Woman's Royal Air Force (WRAF) and became an Assistant Air Traffic Controller for six and a half years. In 1974 Yvonne's Air Force friends worked their 'match making' skills to introduce her to Dave, who, after knowing Yvonne for six days, asked her to marry him; she graciously said "yes" and the rest became a beautiful love affair and fond friendship. While Dave continued service with the RAF Yvonne took care of the home and also worked as a Real Estate agent's personal secretary, and subsequently with the local Police Department as a 'Crime Statistics Analyst'. At the completion of Dave's service with the RAF and a spell with British Aerospace the couple and their two sons accepted an offer of employment with Raytheon Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. During that time, Yvonne became an HR assistant with Koch Industries responsible for the in-draw process of newly appointed executive staff and later, an Executive Assistant to the owners of a commercial photographic business in Texas.  During the ensuing 28 years of residence in the USA all four members of the family became US citizens. Yvonne and Dave, throughout those years, worked and played in Kansas, Texas, West Virginia, Illinois, Florida, Mississippi and Michigan returning to a couple of those states more than once. It is with fondest love and memories that we say goodbye to our most precious wife, mother and grandma as she makes her way to meet Jesus our savior.

Rest in everlasting peace sweetheart.

A family and church directed memorial service will be held at the Freeport First Free Methodist Church on Thursday, May 4, 2023.  A visitation will begin at 11am followed by a memorial service at 1pm.  There will be a luncheon afterwards at the church.

In lieu of flowers you are respectfully invited to make a donation, in Yvonne's memory, to one of her supported charities, thank you.

St Jude's Children's Hospital, 800.822.6344, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105

Shriners, 844.739.0849, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr, Tampa, FL 33607

Special Olympics, 800.380.3071, 2600 Virginia Ave NW, 11th Floor, Washington DC 20037

Wounded Warriors, 855.448.3997, PO Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516

I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude to the doctors, nurses and other support staff at the FHN hospitals in Freeport and Mercy Health hospital in Rockford for their valiant efforts to help Yvonne during this very difficult time. Their professionalism and compassion truly touched Yvonne, our family and I.

Sincerest gratitude must also go to Pastor Don and our incredible church community for their love, prayers and support, again throughout this journey. Sincere thanks to Michelle at Walkers Mortuary in Freeport for her compassion and respect for Yvonne's dignity. May the good Lord bless you all as he receives Yvonne into heaven.