Ann L.B. Yellott

When Ann L. B. Yellott announced in 1935 at age 6 she was changing her name to “Cowboy Bob,” it merely confirmed what everyone already suspected: the kid was horse-crazy, feisty, fiercely independent, and quite a character already. But that was just one of the many names my mom had over her 94 years.

She was forever “Ben” (maiden name: Benet) to her Bryn Mawr School friends, which is how I always knew who knew her way back when. And then she was “Ann” at Sweet Briar College where, as far as I can tell, she spent most of her time riding and being the Huntsman to her 2 and ½ couple of Fox Hounds, when she wasn’t playing Lacrosse.

She was, MOST importantly, “Annie” to her beloved husband, Kin, the one and only love of her life. And, oh, the adventures they had through the years: bird-hunting on the Eastern Shore, fishing as Weekend Warriors off Cape Charles, Ocean City, North Carolina, and the Bahamas in the many boats my dad built in our backyard. She even got her small plane Pilot’s License in her 40’s after dad got his. Feisty, indeed, and the stories of derring-do are epic.

She was “Mom” to me and my brother, Kinner, and what a wonderful mom she was. She was always there cheering us on during whatever pursuits we chose (mostly Lacrosse). And then, she was “Grannie-Annie” to her grandchildren, Kinloch, Margaret, Benet, and Drew, as well as Aunt Ann to several generations of Benet and Yellott nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Enduringly, she was “Boss” to the very many dogs she had all of her life: hunting dogs, Obedience dogs, Therapy dogs. And she was “Equestrian” to the very many horses she also rode, including when she was inducted into the Dressage Century Club at age 83 on her 18 year old horse (for the horse and rider with a combined age of 100 or more).

And then, in a funny way, after my dad died in 1978, she became yet again, and for a long while, “Cowboy Bob,” as she returned to her dream of owning horses. Mom and I spent many, many years riding together, Foxhunting, Eventing, showing, and wandering the trails throughout GreenSpring Valley living the dream.

Mom was also a “Volunteer Extraordinaire,” dedicating her time to Equine Therapy, Pets on Wheels with her dogs, Garden Clubs (her Daffodil and Azaleas and Natural Gardens at her house were legend), the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Oregon Ridge Nature Center, the Irvine Nature Center...Well, the list goes on.

She was “Miss Ann” to Marcia and Audrey, who spent four years lovingly caring for her at Broadmead.

Then, at the end, she was again “Mom,” to me, just as feisty and independent as ever, whom I loved dearly and will always miss, as will everyone else who knew her. “Home is the sailor, home from the sea, and the hunter home from the hill...”

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be directed in Ann’s memory to Chesapeake Bay Foundation Attn: Membership Department, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403.