Yvonne Ponder Grauel, aged 77, passed away unexpectedly in her home on Tuesday, September 10th, 2019. Yvonne was born on June 29, 1942 in Pine Bluff to parents Roland C. Ponder and Mary Montgomery Ponder. She grew up and attended school in Pine Bluff, where she met and married the love of her life, Charles E. Grauel. They were married on September 24, 1966 and were married for 43 years until Charles passed away in 2009.
Yvonne and Charles became the proud parents of four wonderful boys with Yvonne being the best “stay-at-home” mom there ever was. Her dedication to her family ensured that her boys grew up to become Yvonne’s greatest accomplishments. Her sons describe her as being a most compassionate and patient mother, who believed in always comforting them when they needed a mother’s touch combined with a belief in telling them what they needed to hear instead of what they wanted to hear. Yvonne insisted that her boys have good manners and treated people well. She always honest and upfront with them, telling it like it was. She taught them to rely on God’s wisdom and strength; to look for guidance by “praying about it”. She always stayed involved with their interests – even learning to play video games when they became popular. She was known for playing video games and became very skilled at playing “Splinter Cell” to the point that Phillip would have to insist that it was his turn to play.
Family was Yvonne’s number one priority, she would put everything aside for her family’s needs. She loved cooking for them and gathering up family and friends in her home. As the boys married and began their own families, Yvonne welcomed each daughter-in-law into the family and embraced each of them – with the attitude that “family was family and once you are family, you always will be”. Yvonne had a special ability to instinctively know when someone was struggling and knowing just how to comfort in just the right way. She was amazingly able to balance her time between each member of her family, loving her grandchildren unreservedly and delighting in playing games or just spending special one-on-one time with them. New family members were immediately embraced by her loving arms and heart.
Yvonne went to work for North Little Park and Recreation and set about beautifying her community with her special gift in landscaping and gardening. She worked diligently in designing and planting flower beds and shrubbery at the Old Mill, on North Hills Boulevard and in Burns Park – to name just a few. Her work was highlighted in a large article in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. She kept NLR looking beautiful up until her retirement in 2010.
Carrying on Yvonne’s legacy of love and compassion are her sons Bryan Grauel and his wife, Lydia, James Grauel , Darren Grauel, Phillip Grauel and his wife, Lendy; grandchildren Whitney, C.J., Brent, Colby, Laura Brook, Andrew, Charli, Gabriel, Keely, Gracie and Marley; three great grandchildren and two more that are due soon; sisters Gayle Ponder, Marcelline Lain, Judy Hoover and special friend, Don Eoff. She also leaves a wide circle of friends in addition to her family, all of whom have treasured memories of Yvonne that they will cherish forever.
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