SAUNDERS - WARD - BRYANT, Yvette Henning

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Tuesday, January 14, 2003 Yvette Hennig (Bryant) Ward, died peacefully after a long, productive and full life on Jan. 12, 2003. Born June 15, 1910 in St. Paul, Minn. to Adele Hennig and Leon Borer. Raised in the Macalester/Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul during the Great Depression. She taught ballet to fund her education at Ramsey High School. Married Charlie Saunders (daughter, Charlene Saunders Nederlander) and started Charlie's Café Exceptionale in Minneapolis. Married Charles Allen Ward in 1939 (daughters Kiki Ward Platt and Vida Ward Dordevich and son Herbert Bigelow Ward). Lived in Hudson, Wisc. and Rimrock, Az. from 1940 to 1960. She was the owner and publisher of the Hudson Star Observer newspaper, through which she became the driving force for the creation of the Hudson Memorial Hospital. Although a life long Democrat, she was sent in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on a good will mission to Russia which she chronicled in a book, "Russia Through A Free Woman's Eyes." Following the death of Charlie Ward in 1959, she became president of the Brown & Bigelow Manufacturing Company in St. Paul. She lived in Phoenix, Az. from 1967 until her death. She was married for 10 years to James Bryant (deceased). She contributed her time and resources to many charitable organizations including the Barrow's Neurologic Foundation and the Phoenix Art Museum. An active member of the Phoenix Country Club, she could always be found having lunch with her long time companion and true friend, David Wynne. She is survived by her children: Charlene (Jimmy), Kiki, Vida (Dejan) and Herbert (Lori); grandchildren: Sharon Nederlander, Kristina Gustafson, Ward Platt, Micha and Charlie Ward Dordevich, Charlie and Jazz Yvette Ward; and great grandchildren: Gunnar and Krisanna Gustafson and Audrey Platt. Services to be scheduled. Memorials to the Hudson Memorial Hospital and the Barrow's Neurologic Foundation. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.