Obituaries

Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Yerkes

February 11, 1931 - April 6, 2026

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Liz’s memory can be made to the Elsinboro Fire Company, 35 Delaware Ave., Salem, NJ 08079; the Salem County Humane Society, 214 Game Creek Rd., Penns Grove, NJ 08069; or the Elsinboro Township School Music Program, 631 Salem-Ft. Elfsborg Rd., Salem, NJ 08079.

Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Yerkes, 95, passed away peacefully at home on April 6, 2026. Liz was born on February 11, 1931 to Marvin and Letitia Coombs in Mannington Township, NJ. She was a lifelong resident of Salem County, and lived most of her adult life in Elsinboro Township.

After graduating from Salem High School in 1948, she earned degrees from Centenary Junior College in Hackettstown, NJ, and Pierce College in Philadelphia, PA. She then worked as a private secretary for two of the DuPont families in Wilmington, DE. In 1956, she married Thomas G. Hilliard, Jr. and retired in 1960 to work with him managing real estate holdings. Widowed at the age of 42, Liz continued to successfully manage the business interests and continued to work in her home office until weeks before her passing. In 1976 she married Eugene (Bud) Yerkes and they were married until his death in 2008. Liz enjoyed boating on the Chesapeake and traveling with both of her husbands and they often included their nieces and nephews on their trips. Liz believed strongly in supporting her community and local charities. She gave generously to the Elsinboro Fire Company as well as the Elsinboro School Music Program and the Salem County Humane Society. Liz was a caring mentor and friend, known by many outside the family as “Aunt Liz” because she developed meaningful relationships with so many.

In addition to her parents and husbands, Liz was preceded in death by her brother Marvin Coombs Jr., who died in infancy, sister Anna Coombs Rohrer, and brother William (Bill) Coombs. She is survived by nephews John Rohrer (Susan), James Rohrer (Lynn), nieces Jane Davis (Kevin), Anne Mulligan, Jeannette Nykiel (Ted) as well as great and great-great nieces and nephews.