Sophie Brauner

Sophie Brauner, 91, of Burton, died July 18, 2008 at her daughter''s residence in Mill City, Oregon. Mrs. Brauner was born April 24, 1917 in Brenham to Willie and Martha Deiss Gummelt. She was educated at Mill Creek School. On May 4, 1935, she married the love of her life, Herbert Henry Brauner. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Zionsville, and was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Zionsville. Mrs. Brauner cherished her family, and always enjoyed being involved in their lives. She was a warm and loving person, and had a sense of humor that her family enjoyed. She had a big heart. She loved her husband, children, and grandchildren unconditionally. Sophie was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking, gardening, canning and playing dominoes until all hours of the night whenever friends and family came to visit. She loved flowers. Sophie enjoyed owning and raising cattle at their home and watching new life through the birth of baby calves. To anyone who ever entered her home, whether it was family or friends, quickly learned that her kitchen held more love and memories than any other room in the house. She took pride in everything she prepared and seasoned it with love. It always gave her great pleasure to prepare favorite foods for her family and friends. She always seemed to remember everyone''s favorite dish, and was more than happy to prepare them when that certain loved one came to visit. To spend time gathering around her kitchen table sharing everyday events and memories brought lots of laughter and sometimes tears, was a blessing to all. The warmth of her love and kindness is a gift that will always be remembered. Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Ernest Henry and Sharon Brauner of Needville and Dwayne and Tammy Brauner of Brenham; daughters and sons-in-law Marie and Herman Sebastian of Navasota and Sandy and Howard Lyness of Mill City, Oregon; grandchildren Becky Knight, Grover Sebastian and wife Sandra, Gwen Lamascus and husband Alan, Ernest Brauner Jr. and wife Mendie, Shelley Pesak and husband Fillip, Stacy Conner and wife Patsy, Ryan Brauner and Rachel Brauner; great-grandchildren Jenny Sebastian, Josh Sebastian, Julie Mock and husband Justin, Amanda, Analyse and Gaston Lamascus, Collin and Brianna Brauner, Shelby, Jacob and Emma Pesak, Shade and Kaylie Conner. Other survivors include sisters Ivy Smith and Irma Mae Graham, sister-in-law Janie Gummelt, and various nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mrs. Brauner was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Martha Gummelt, her husband Herbert H. Brauner, granddaughter Vicky Sebastian, great-granddaughter Stacy Anne Conner, sisters Elsie Neumann and Myrtle Schirmer; brothers Willie and Norris Gummelt; sister-in-law Virginia Gummelt; brothers-in-law Ed Neumann, Travis Smith, Weldon Graham and Gus Schirmer. Serving as pallbearers are Grover Sebastian, Ernest Brauner, Jr., Stacy Conner, Ryan Brauner, Alan Lamascus, Fillip Pesak, Josh Sebastian, and Gaston Lamascus. Honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters and great-grandchildren. A special "Thank You" to Jan Leonard and Jessica Henderson for being such kind and loving caregivers to Mrs. Brauner. The Brauner family will receive visitors from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24 at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham. The funeral service for Sophie Brauner will be held Friday, July 25, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor David Hall officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church or Willamette Valley Hospice.