Sue Nell Grauke

Sue Nell (Taylor) Grauke, 92, of Brenham, slipped away quietly in her sleep to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the morning of December 27, 2012. Visitation will be at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 30, 2012, at Brenham's First Baptist Church. Funeral services are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and will be led by Rev. Troy Sikes. Sue Nell will be buried beside her husband, Olie Grauke, in Greenwood Cemetery, Fredericksburg Texas on Monday, December 31, 2012. Services will be held at 10 a.m. at Faith Baptist Church, Fredericksburg Texas, and will be led by Rev. George Watts. Sue Nell was born in Rusk, Texas on October 5, 1920, the sixth and youngest child born to Rev. John Sanford Taylor and his wife Sallie Merle (Turner). With the support and assistance of her oldest sister, Lou Reid of Alpine, she received a B.A. from Sul Ross State Teacher's College, with a teaching certificate. She married Olie Grauke on December 26, 1941. After his service in the Army Air Corps, the couple established their first home in Austin, where they and their first 3 sons were nurtured by the University Baptist Church. Their fourth son was born in Houston where Olie began a career in public school business administration. They raised their family in Deer Park, in fellowship with the First Baptist Church. Sue Nell taught first grade in elementary schools in Houston, Pasadena, and College Station, Texas from 1956 until 1981. She made indelible impressions on the lives of her students with her love and discipline. She retired with Olie to Fredericksburg, where she supported him in the pursuit of his dream of establishing a peach orchard until his death in 1986. Sue Nell was a founding and faithful member of Faith Baptist Church of Fredericksburg until a debilitating injury necessitated her move to Brenham in 2007. Sue Nell (Taylor) Grauke was preceded in death by her mother and father, her sisters Lou Reid and Merle Ward, her brothers Ralph, John, and Fred Taylor, and her husband, Olie C. Grauke. She is survived by her sons: John Henry and wife Donna Grauke of Moscow, Idaho; Edwin Taylor Grauke of El Paso; L. J. and wife Wren Grauke of Brenham; and Chad Grauke of Bryan. Her grandchildren through John and Donna include Luke (wife Olivia), Isaac (wife Katie), and Jeremiah (wife Kelsey) Grauke all of Idaho. Grandchildren through Edwin and Joy include Amber (husband Chris Geyer) and Joshua (wife Jessica) Grauke of El Paso. Grandchildren through L. J. and Wren include Gabriel (wife Ashley) Grauke of California, Ole (wife Margaret) Grauke of North Carolina, and Kristina Nell (husband Sean Matherne) of College Station. Grandchildren through Chad and Debbie include Leda (husband Chris Owens) of Dallas, Jacob and Nathan Grauke of Bryan. Great-grandchildren are Lily, Jonathan, and Ryle Grauke (Luke and Olivia); Gus, Evie, Max and Ben Grauke (Isaac and Katie); Jayden Grauke (Josh and Jessica); Ilana Grauke (Ole and Margaret); Mikyla and Henley Owens (Leda and Chris). Sue Nell is also survived by her sister Merle's sons Bill, Sanny, and Tommy Ward; by the descendants of her brother John (wife Katheryn) Taylor; by the descendants of her brother Ralph (wife Eunice) Taylor; by Olie's last surviving brother Lee J. and a host of Grauke cousins; and by her extended family Jim, Sara, Noel, and Blake Eskew of Austin and the Ray and Mary Ann Walton family of Fredericksburg. Funeral arrangements for Sue Nell Grauke are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute visit www.memorialoakschapel.com. Thank God for his mercy and grace. Be in fellowship with his Church.