Stefanie Yaskow-Updegraff

Stefanie Gene Yaskow-Updegraff was born on February 18, 1995 in Fernando de la Mora, Paraguay. She arrived home to the United States on November 10, 1995 in the arms of her adopted parents, Sherman and Suzanne Updegraff, along with her brother Sehler Updegraff.

Stefanie is preceded in death by her beloved grandparents Henry Lee and Mina Gene Granberry, Grandma and Grandpa. She will rest beside them through eternity. She is also preceded in death by her beloved grandparents, Beryl and Juanita Updegraff, Granny and Papa. They shared their home with Stefanie in Indiana for a short while. She is also preceded in death by her dear friend and “Uncle” Ron Tucker, her baseball buddy.

Stefanie lived in Denver, Colorado through graduation of high school from Denver Academy. She lived in San Diego, California for several years while building her veterinary career. She settled in Benson, Arizona and Potsdam, New York with the love of her life, Brittany Yaskow. Married on October 6, 2023 in Lindale, Texas, Stefanie and Brittany built a life with their shared love of animals, gardening and traveling. They were so proud of their farm of 67 acres. Their plans of building a doggie day camp and community vegetable garden were constant conversations. Stefanie’s favorite things in this world were her animals.

Her Dogs: Willis - saved her life for years. Her loyal companion is now 20 years old; King Jr. - A beautiful, regal German became Stefanie’s dear friend; Xena - Stefanie saved Xena, who was homeless, fragile and afraid, and she and Stefanie became soul mates.

Her Cats: Radar - Stefanie loved this black cat the most and he was a Momma’s boy; Dingo - Radar’s twin, Stefanie would not separate them and loved Dingo’s playful side; FaceTime - Stefanie inherited FaceTime and his twin when they were left behind; Whiskey - FaceTime’s twin, Stefanie often laughed that Whiskey was born without a brain; Oscar - Stefanie’s first cat. Oscar died along life’s path, but she never forgot him.

Her Bunnies: Teddy & Olive, Stefanie’s twin bunnies (who now live in Heaven) were adored.

Her Memory Animals: Stefanie volunteered in many animal shelters. She found Josephine who had 24 hours left before euthanasia. Josephine was blind and desperately needed love. She lived in Colorado with Stefanie until her death on Valentine’s Day in 2012; Stefanie’s beloved Grandmother, Gene Granberry, gifted Kelsey, a beautiful brown Cocker Spaniel to Stefanie on Christmas Day 2001; Ricky was Stefanie’s gerbil who lived four years in her childhood bedroom and died in her arms; Jo-Jo was Stefanie’s bird and sang to her every morning and evening; She also loved Brittany’s animals: Roscoe, Doogie, Ziva, Emerald, Bonnie & Clyde, Baybee Gurl.

A celebration to honor Stefanie's life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 1, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, Dallas, TX.