Grace Vernell (Brauner) Yoder

Grace Brauner Yoder passed away on Saturday, October 22nd, 2022, seventeen days after celebrating
her 99th birthday.
Grace was born in Schulenburg, Texas on October 5th, 1923 to Lillie and Otto Brauner. She grew up
helping her dad round up cattle for his ranching and butcher shop businesses and graduated from
Schulenburg High School before attending the University of Texas. She met and fell in love with J.R.
(Buddy) Yoder of Weimar in 1942. They were married in April of 1944 in Quantico, Virginia where
Buddy was undergoing basic training in the Marines just before being deployed to join our troops in the
South Pacific during WWII. Upon his return, she and Buddy moved to Weimar where they entered into
partnership with Buddy's father, R.H. Yoder, in publishing the Weimar Mercury. She worked in the
office there until the birth of her two children kept her busy at home as a housewife. She and Buddy
shared 68 wonderful years together before Buddy's passing in 2012 at age 90.
Grace was very active in many civic organizations in Weimar over the years. She was a member of the
Weimar Woman's Club for 40 years, serving as President numerous times. She was also a member of
the Naomi Ruth Circle and served as President and Secretary of the Women's Guild at the Weimar
United Church. She was very active for years in the Weimar ISD PTA, serving as Vice-President, and
was a Girl Scout leader for 7 years.
Grace was a 6th generation Texan. Her great-great-great grandfather, Jacob Wolters and her great-great
grandfather, George Herder, both fought with Sam Houston at San Jacinto in the Texas Revolution in
1836 to free Texas from Mexican rule. She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas
and helped to found the Dilue Rose Chapter where she was a charter member and served as President
for 4 years. Many of her ancestors, including George Herder who came to Texas in 1834, were buried
at Old High Hill Cemetery, and Grace took on the task of helping to organize an association to care for
the cemetery and to have a historical marker erected there by the Texas Historical Commission. In
addition she worked closely with the Colorado County Historical Commission to have plaques and
markers placed around the county.
Grace was devoted to her family and loved their times together. She is survived by her two children,
Karen Williamson and husband Roger of Harker Heights, Texas and Ken Yoder and wife Lana of West
Point, Texas and her grandchildren Stephen Williamson of Harker Heights, Texas and Eric Williamson,
wife Lynnea, and great grandson Nolen of Marblehead, Massachusetts. She is predeceased by her
husband, J.R. (Buddy) Yoder, her parents, Lillie and Otto Brauner, her sisters Mildred Jackson and
Aline Henderson, and her brother Royce Brauner.
Services will be held at the Weimar United Church in Weimar, Texas on November 4th at 10 a.m., with
a short graveside service to follow at Masonic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Eric and
Stephen Williamson, her nephews David Jaye, Don Henderson, Jim Chandler, Tom Chandler, John
Chandler, and Bobby Joe Kobza. Honorary pallbearer is her nephew Roy Howell Henderson. In lieu
of flowers, memorials may be made to the Weimar United Church or the Old High Hill Cemetery
Association, 672 W Plant Lane, West Point, Texas 78963.
Services have been entrusted to Hubbard Funeral Home in Weimar, Texas.

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