Yvonne Echart Nations

Yvonne Echart Nations, age 96, of Hondo & San Antonio, TX, peacefully passed away July 11, 2026. She was born December 19, 1929 in Enloe, TX. The daughter of Thomas Vester Echart, and Faye Carrington Echart. She grew up in Commerce, TX and graduated from East Texas State Teachers College (now Texas A&M Commerce) in May 1947. There she was class President, a member of the Tua Nua Sorority, ranked at the very top of her class, and met and married her husband of 61 years, Robert William ‘Bob’ Nations. They married in 1948 and moved to Hondo, TX in the early 50’s.

Yvonne’s teaching career spanned 41+ years with Hondo, Bandera and Devine school districts. She taught high school vocational classes and English courses, 5th grade math, and varying grades in computer literacy education throughout her career. She loved working with the Senior classes as class sponsor, coaching UIL number sense teams and offered private tutoring at her home in various subjects. Yvonne and Bob also worked together to coach the ‘58 – ’62 Hondo High School girls basketball team, and she joined him as his assistant on many football scouting trips. They also served together on the Hondo United Methodist church board, participated in the planning of the new church building, and lead MYF and Sunday school classes for many years. Yvonne’s students were also her children. She frequently referred to them all as her extended family and kids. The couple adopted two children in 1962 and 1964 adding to their already adopted family of many students and teachers.

Yvonne designed the blueprints for the ‘Nations House’ on Avenue M. She lived for 52 years in Kollman Oaks, Hondo - where all her neighbors were a special part of her life. The family’s favorite pastimes together were camping trips in Texas, road trips around the country, taking all the kids water skiing on Medina Lake, hosting friends at the big green house, and playing pool with any and all that wanted to drop by. She spent many years attending football, and basketball games as a supporter and a fan. After retirement she loved traveling to destinations she had longed to see, roaming the country in the RV with Bob, going line dancing with the ladies, attending Bible study classes and enjoying many class reunions with her former students.

Yvonne is preceded in death by her parents and in-laws; sister Sarah Echart Walsh, brother Thomas Vester Jr., husband Robert William (Bob) Nations, and brother-in-law Milton Gene Nations.

She is survived by her daughter Libby L. Nations, son Tobin R. Nations, sister-in-law Nelwyn Nations, niece Liz Nations Stone, nephews Dan Nations (Ann & Freya), Dave Nations (Layla - Caroline & Chloe), three grandchildren Nicole, Tyler and Destiny; and three great-grandchildren.

Donations may be directed to Providence Place – San Antonio, TX; Hondo Methodist Church – Hondo, TX; or New Fountain Methodist Church – New Fountain/Hondo, TX.

A graveside service will take place at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 18, at Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section, 400 CR 443, Hondo TX 78861.

GUINN-HORGER FUNERAL HOME