Roberta Yvonne Dykes Obituary- Roberta Yvonne Dykes, age 77, passed away peacefully on the evening of April 14, 2017. Yvonne, as she was known by friends and family, was born in Lake County, FL on June 28, 1939. She was the daughter of the late Robert Lee Vaughn and Joyce Vaughn. She graduated from Umatilla High School in 1957, and the following year she married her high school sweetheart, James Ernest Dykes. Yvonne and Jim moved to Gainesville, FL where they attended the University of Florida and became lifetime Gator fans; even naming two of their beloved Mastiffs "Ali"(gator) and "Gator." Throughout their lives, the pair moved across the US and eventually spanned the globe, spending almost 2 years in Taiwan where Yvonne was inspired by many cultural and culinary delights. She was a self-taught master seamstress and created everything from her own wedding dress to costumes, quilts, christening gowns and whimsical dolls. She was beyond passionate about Southern cooking. Her fried chicken was so good, it was known to bring tears of joy to many eyes. And her biscuits, those big fluffy biscuits served with sliding hot butter, will be cherished for generations. Her garden would have been rivaled by any Master Chef, and her variety of heirloom tomatoes were considered award-winning. She was captivated by the beauty of the sea and all its mythical creatures. She loved collecting seashells throughout Florida’s beaches, the Caribbean, and looked forward to the annual family vacations in the Islands. Not even a Bull Shark could keep her from getting “just one more shell” from a sandbar. And to this day, we (her family) think she was part mermaid. Yvonne and Jim were blessed to have many wonderful animals throughout their lives and Yvonne was known for her philanthropic efforts in animal rescue and conservation. Most recently she enjoyed a safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where she discovered a fondness for giraffes and the spirit of Africa. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to so many, Yvonne was known for her unwavering dedication to her family. Her mantra was simple yet infinitely true: “every day holds the possibility of a miracle,” and she instilled that sentiment in everything she did. She sprinkled everyone’s hearts with a little bit of fairy dust, allowing her spirit to continue on in every life she touched. Yvonne is survived by her brother Robert Vaughn, her daughters Kim Teegen (John) and Meme Bernholz (Blake), and her two grandchildren Jennefer and Brandon Teegen (Madeline). A private celebration of life was held by her family on April 22, 2017. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to Ayla’s Acres www.aylasacres.org a non-profit animal rescue organization that Yvonne strongly supported; or Ex Libris Africa, www.crowdrise.com/exlibrisafrica a charity launched by her granddaughter that supports children’s learning centers in Kenya. Ayla’s Acres No-Kill Animal Rescue, Inc. is a St. Augustine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting adoption, spay and neuter, and responsible care of animals. Along with education, outreach, adoption and fostering programs, Ayla’s Acres maintains a 45-acre sanctuary where more than 200 “unadoptable” animals may live out their lives with peace, love, and dignity. The organization is currently raising money to build the St. Johns County-based Peter’s Friends Animal Resource Center which will serve as an adoption facility, low/no-cost spay/neuter, and vaccination clinic, and an education and outreach center. Ayla’s Acres receives no government funding, relying instead on private grants, donations of money, supplies, and items that are sold through their thrift shop located at 142 King Street in St. Augustine, Florida. Learn more or donate at www.aylasacres.org. Ex Libris Africa is a fundraiser aimed at raising awareness of the need for higher literacy in Kenya through the donation of books with personalized book plates donated to local libraries through America Share, Micato Safaris and the friends and family of Jennefer Teegen. For more information on how you can donate to this charity, contact Jennefer Teegen at jennteegen@gmail.com or visit www.crowdrise.com/exlibrisafrica