Obituary for Yvonne Sarah Medawar

Yvonne Sarah Medawar passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, April 25, 2026, around 8:00 a.m.

There are some people who move through this world quietly carrying more pain than most will ever know, yet somehow still find a way to love louder, give more, and care deeper than anyone around them. Yvonne was one of those rare people.

When we think of Yvonne, we think of a woman who was truly, deeply, endlessly selfless. She had a heart of gold and would give anything she had to someone in need. She was the kind of person who would see someone struggling on the side of the road and not just feel sorry for them, but do something about it. She would buy food for people who were hungry. She would give clothes to people who needed them. She would stop in the Burger King drive-thru and order extra, not for herself, but for someone else who might not have eaten that day.

That was Yvonne.

She did not just talk about caring.

She lived it.

She cared about people in a way that was real. She listened. She remembered. She worried. She prayed. She would sit for hours and let someone pour out their heart because she truly wanted people to feel less alone. She had a way of making people feel welcome, accepted, and loved. People gravitated toward her because her spirit was warm, honest, and unforgettable. She could make a friend out of anyone.She was also brutally honest, wildly opinionated, and had absolutely no interest in pretending otherwise. If she had a thought, you were going to hear it whether you were ready or not. If something needed to be said, Yvonne said it. If something did not need to be said, there was still a good chance Yvonne said it anyway. But that was part of what made her unforgettable. You never had to wonder where you stood with Yvonne.  Sometimes it made you laugh, sometimes it made you roll your eyes, and sometimes it made you want to leave the room and reconsider your life choices. But underneath every sharp comment was a woman who cared deeply, loved completely, and wanted the best for the people she loved.

Yvonne was loyal beyond measure. She was strong, stubborn in the best way, and never afraid to fight for what she believed in. Life was not always gentle with her. She had a tough childhood and carried pain throughout her life, but even when her body hurt, her heart kept giving. Even when she was tired, she still found a way to be there. Even when she had every reason to focus on herself, she focused on the people she loved.

She was a first-generation American, the beloved daughter of Mildred Whitaker, who was from England, and Arthur Duff, who was from Scotland. Her roots were part of who she was: strong, proud, resilient, and full of spirit.

Yvonne was an old soul with a free spirit. She loved Harley-Davidson, motorcycles, the mountains, and nature. She loved the feeling of freedom, the open road, and the beauty of the world around her. Even when she could not always get out and experience those things herself, she lived through her children. Their adventures became hers. Their stories became her joy. Their victories became her pride. 

More than anything in this world, Yvonne loved her family.

She was so proud of her children: her eldest son, Traven; her daughter, Asiah; and her youngest son, Tyler. Her kids were her world. She loved them with every part of herself and sacrificed more than they may ever fully know to be the best mother she possibly could be. She was proud not only of what they did, but of who they became.

She loved watching Traven play football. She loved watching Asiah box. She loved being around Tyler, who poured his heart and soul into caring for her. And when her children were hurting, Yvonne was there. When Asiah and Tyler were in their motorcycle accident, she sat at the hospital day after day, praying, worrying, loving, and doing everything she could to take care of them. No matter how sick or tired she was, she still found a way to be a mother first.

She loved her husband, Elie, and she adored her grandchildren, Grace and Luke. They were a light in her life and a part of the legacy she leaves behind.

Yvonne’s love showed up in ways that will never be forgotten. It showed up in long phone calls. It showed up in advice, in worry, in laughter, in listening, in checking in, and in being there even when she had little strength left to give. Her family will miss those calls, especially the ones during long drives home  the kind where hours could pass just talking, listening, and feeling close to her. Those conversations were a gift. Her voice was a comfort. Her love was a constant.

She also shared a special bond with her sister Jean, her brother Phil, her niece Nicole, and Birdie, who was like a mother to her. She could spend hours on the phone, talking, listening, and holding close the people who mattered to her.

Yvonne was not perfect, because no one is. But she was real. She was fierce. She was loving. She was loyal. She was funny, stubborn, caring, protective, and unforgettable. She carried more than most people saw, and still gave more than most people ever could. She taught her children what it means to love through hardship, to keep showing up, and to care for others even when life is heavy.

She would have given the clothes off her back for someone she loved.

She would have gone without so someone else could have enough.

She would have fought for her family until her last breath.

She leaves behind a legacy of compassion, strength, loyalty, sacrifice, and unconditional love. Her children, grandchildren, family, and friends will carry her with them always in their hearts, in their memories, and in the way they love others because she first loved them.

Yvonne is survived by her husband, Elie; her children, Traven, Asiah, and Tyler; her grandchildren, Grace and Luke; her sister, Jean ; her brothers, Phil and Stewart; her niece, Nichole and nephew Josh; Second Mom Birdie; and many family members and friends who were blessed to know and love her.

Service details will be shared by the family.

May she finally be free from pain, surrounded by peace, and carried forever in the love of the family she gave everything for.

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