Zelia Ann Reynolds Grunewald

Today we gather to celebrate the life of Zelia Ann Reynolds Grunewald, born August 19, 1962, in Crockett, Texas, to John Oscar “Jack” Reynolds and Barbara Ann Reynolds. Ann came into this world with a spark in her eye and a laugh that could fill a house, a truck stop, or a church pew—and that spark never left her, not once in sixty-three years. She grew up in Houston and Navasota before graduating from Nacogdoches High School in 1980. Ann was a Dragon Twirler—not just good at it, but legendary. She earned medals by the handful and was named Co-Twirler of the Year in 1979 with her sister Connie. She could send that baton halfway to heaven and catch it with a grin that made everybody clap. She also played trombone in the band and was the one everybody looked to when they needed a laugh. She had a way of breaking tension and lighting up even the dullest day. Ann married Gary “P’Nut” Grunewald, and together they built a life full of love, laughter, and grit. She was the proud mother of Kaci Michelle Dunn (married to Larry Dunn) and Kevin Edward Earnest (married to Ashley Earnest). Her three grandchildren—Memory, Autumn, and Dale—were the lights of her life, and she adored them beyond measure. Ann is also survived by her siblings: John Reynolds and wife Nita; Debbie Reynolds; Connie Tomerlin and husband Cliff; Mike Reynolds and wife Dawn; and LaJean Hicks and husband Scott, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family who loved her dearly. She began her working life as a secretary, later opened her own flower-making business, and spent many years as a bartender—the kind everybody loved, because she could pour a drink, lend an ear, and make you feel like family. She also helped run her parents’ Shell Shop at the beach, where she soaked in the sunshine and laughter that suited her so well. When she wasn’t working, you could find her playing 42 dominoes with her friends—mostly older gentlemen who adored her company. She loved being around folks, especially those who needed a little cheer—and she never failed to deliver it. Ann Reynolds Grunewald will be remembered as a beautiful soul—funny, fiery, loyal, and real. She could make you laugh until you cried, then hand you a napkin and start you laughing again. Debbie, Connie, and Ann—the three little musketeers—shared a bond that even heaven can’t break. So today, let’s remember her as she truly was: laughing, twirling, teasing, loving, and living out loud. Let’s hold tight to the laughter, forgive the rest, and thank God for the grace that promises we’ll see her again. As the Scripture says in John 1:16— “From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” And that’s what Ann has now—grace upon grace.

Zelia Ann Reynolds Grunewald

August 19, 1962 - October 27, 2025

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Zelia Ann Reynolds Grunewald

August 19, 1962 - October 27, 2025

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