It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Mary Charleen Perry Yarborough, D.V.M., on July 4, 2026, following a courageous battle with cancer. She passed peacefully at Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages, Florida, surrounded by the love of her family.

Charleen was born on September 17, 1937, in Ocala, Florida, to Hugh Charlton Perry and Elizabeth Charlotte Waters. A proud Florida native, she was the great-great-granddaughter of Peter Boyer Perry and Elizabeth Duke, members of one of Florida's founding families. The farming community of Pedro in Marion County was named in honor of her ancestor, reflecting her family's deep roots in the state she loved.

A graduate of Ocala High School's Class of 1955, Charleen was an honor student who chose to pursue veterinary medicine despite being told it was not a career for women. Determined to follow her dream, she attended the University of Florida, where she earned her bachelor's degree and met the love of her life, James H. "Buddy" Yarborough. In 1960, they were among only five students from Florida accepted into the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. After earning their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees in 1964, they began practicing in Miami before opening Galloway Animal Clinic in what is now Pinecrest, Florida, where they compassionately cared for animals for more than two decades. Even after retirement, they continued providing relief veterinary services throughout South Florida. Years later, Charleen learned she had been the first Florida-born woman to become a licensed veterinarian in the State of Florida—a distinction she accepted with quiet humility.

While Charleen's professional accomplishments were remarkable, her greatest legacy was the life she built with those she loved. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, a proud grandmother, a cherished sister and aunt, and a devoted caregiver to the many dogs and cats who were fortunate enough to call her their own. Her home was always open, her heart always generous, and her kindness touched both people and animals alike.

Charleen possessed a remarkable creative spirit and found beauty in the ordinary. An accomplished artist, she loved painting and had a unique ability to see wonder in everyday moments. She also dedicated countless hours to her community through the Parent Teacher Association, helping raise funds for air conditioning at Miami Palmetto Junior High School and supporting Miami Palmetto High School's baseball program, including fundraising efforts for the team's spring training trips to Texas. She was an active member of the Rod and Reel Club Women's Auxiliary and treasured the friendships she made there.

Some of Charleen's happiest memories were made at the family's beloved weekend home on Chokoloskee Island. She loved the peaceful beauty of Everglades National Park and was an accomplished angler who felt most at home on the water. Whether fishing, watching wildlife, or enjoying a quiet sunset, she found joy in Florida's natural beauty and inspired those around her to appreciate and protect it.

Charleen loved her children with a fierceness that shaped every decision she made. In the evenings, she would slip into an algebra classroom at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, relearning equations so she could sit beside her children and help them make sense of their homework. Many afternoons were spent with her feet dangling in the pool as she helped her kids write essays, quiz them on Spanish vocabulary or whatever other subjects happened to be challenging them at the time. Her unwavering dedication to their education was just one of the many ways she showed her love, always giving her time, energy, and patience to help us succeed.

After many years in South Florida, Charleen and Buddy returned to Ocala in 2006 to enjoy the retirement they had long anticipated. Returning home allowed Charleen to reconnect with her lifelong friends, her family, and the community that had shaped her early years. It was a homecoming she treasured and a fitting place to spend the next chapter of her life.

Charleen was preceded in death by her parents, Hugh Charlton Perry and Elizabeth Charlotte Waters Perry Moody; her beloved husband, Dr. James H. "Buddy" Yarborough; her sister, Jan Blanchard; and her brother, Hugh Perry.

She is lovingly survived by her son, Spencer Yarborough and his wife, Karey Yarborough; her daughter, Leigh McCullough and her husband, Bob McCullough; and her granddaughter, Sydney Watson, and her husband, Brant Watson. Her brother-in-law Robert Blanchard and sister-in-law Peggy Perry. Stepsister Virginia Gwaltney and her husband Joe Gwaltney; many nieces, nephews, extended family members, lifelong friends, and countless former clients whose lives she touched through her compassion and care.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the many friends who faithfully checked on Charleen and offered love and encouragement throughout her illness. Special thanks are also extended to the compassionate staff of Cornerstone Hospice, especially Tiffany, Rachel and Carlisa, for the exceptional care and comfort they provided. Charleen also held a special place in her heart for her children's many lifelong friends, whom she welcomed and loved as members of her own family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to a local animal rescue organization, the Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA Florida), or another organization dedicated to the welfare of animals and the conservation of Florida's natural resources. Charleen believed every animal deserved compassion, kindness, and a helping hand. The greatest way to honor her memory is to care for an animal in need and to leave the world a little kinder than you found it.

A Celebration of Life will be held Oct. 11, 2026. Time and place will be determined at a later date.