Mary Margaret Yeagley

Mary moved from sunny California while in the third grade to Lake Zurich and then Barrington, Illinois, and still has many friends in all those places.

Mary was musically talented, playing piano, guitar, banjo, ukulele, and played piano in the Barrington High School jazz band. She was an athlete, playing soccer as a child and then lacrosse on several travel teams, the Barrington High School Varsity team, as well as in college. Mary graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and received a B.A. in Psychology with Highest Honors and Distinction in Major in 2011. She then went on to receive her J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 2014.

Mary had been an Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County, Texas, for over four years, where she worked diligently to obtain justice for all. She had a special place in her heart for victims of crime, always fighting fiercely for them. She enjoyed her job and loved her co-workers. Criminal law was truly her passion.

All who knew Mary appreciated her strong work ethic, but they will also tell you that she knew how to squeeze as much fun as possible out of any situation. She never took her own problems too seriously and often made her loved ones laugh as they tried to cope with her cancer journey. She preferred not to make that the focus of her life, confronting it with grace and humor for twelve years.

As the oldest sibling, she looked out for her brother and sister and was always there to protect them, help them, make them laugh, give them advice, comfort, love, or even deliver a swift kick in the pants when she deemed it necessary.

Mary was generous with anyone who needed help, whether it was money, food, clothing, or furnishings. She valued people over things. She also had a soft spot for animals and volunteered at a pet rescue while in high school and then at BUNS – Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter, a rabbit shelter where she adopted Audrey Hopburn, her beloved rabbit. Mary was also an advocate for Refuge for Women - North Texas. Refuge for Women is a national faith-based organization providing a residential healing and recovery program for survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation. While in Law School she picked up an abandoned baby squirrel. She faithfully fed it around the clock as a mother would, between winks of sleep at night and classes during the day, until it was old enough to survive on its own at Walden’s Pond.

While at Vanderbilt, Mary met fellow classmate Jay Butler who was to become the love of her life. Jay and Mary kept their sense of humor, love, and faith at times both fun and tragic. Either way, whatever it was, it was better for Mary when Jay was with her. Together they had adventures in Nashville, Michigan, Illinois, California, North Carolina, Florida, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico.

Mary’s life was short but full of meaning and she will be lovingly remembered by all whom she inspired and blessed. Thank you, God, for loaning her to us for the time we had her. We look forward to more laughs with her in the next life. She was a total blast!

Mary is survived by her parents, Jeanne and Robert Yeagley; her brother, James Yeagley; her sister, Michelle Yeagley; the love of her life, James Butler IV, and her beloved bunny companion of ten years, Audrey Hopburn.

Mary’s visitation and Rosary will, and funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 17th, 9:30am at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 6306 Kenwood Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75214. Immediately following the mass will be a celebration of her life at Times Ten Cellars, 6324 Prospect Ave, Dallas, TX 75214. Mary will be buried at Evergreen Cemetery in her hometown, Barrington, Illinois. Details to follow as available.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church or to MD Anderson Cancer Center with memo line: Dr. Dejka Araujo/Synovial Sarcoma Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 450, Houston, TX 77030.