Mazie Lou Burton

Mazie Lou Erlenbusch Burton 92, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, August 6, 2014. She was born on February 19, 1922 in Houston, Texas and was one of three children to Bertha Croswell Erlenbusch and Otto Lewis Erlenbusch of Decatur, IL.

Her parents, her older sister Helen, younger brother Guy and her husband Leonard Miller Burton (52 years) and second husband, Homer Long (4 years) of Austin, Texas, preceded her in death.

Mazie was born on a freezing, rainy day in the home her father built at 538 Frazier Street, in the Heights of Houston, Texas. She met her future husband, Leonard, when she was 3 and he was 5 while playing together on their block near Whiteoak Bayou. Mazie attended Harvard Elementary, Hogg Junior High School and Reagan High School. While in high school she worked as an usher at the Uptown Theater where her father was employed. She graduated from Reagan High School in 1940 even though she had been secretly married for two years to her childhood friend, Leonard Burton. They got married in Lake Charles, LA in 1938 with her sister Helen and brother-in-law Ambert Fowler as witnesses. They moved to Knoxville, TN and then to Florida where he pitched professionally in the Southern Association Baseball League. In 1943 while he was stationed in the Pacific with the Army Air Corp she worked for the Sandolin Oil Company in downtown Houston. After the war Mazie and Leonard moved to Columbus, TX where he played semi-pro baseball and was an owner of the Firestone Tire Store for 10 years. Mazie sold Avon and raised her three children.

In 1961 the family moved back to Houston in the Spring Branch area, ultimately settling in Cypress Texas in1964. Mazie worked as a sales associate at Palais Royal Department store and as an executive assistant at Spring Branch Hospital and at FMC.

In 1983 Mazie and Leonard retired to the Panorama Country Club estates, northwest of Houston. Mazie was an excellent bridge player and looked forward to weekly spirited, fun games with her friends. She and Leonard went to many activities and parties at the clubhouse for the next seven years. It was one of the best periods of her life. She enjoyed their time together in Panorama immensely.

After Leonard died in 1990 Mazie moved to Austin to be near her daughter Trudy. There she made many friends by volunteering at the Senior Activity Center and at several hospitals. In 1995 while playing weekly bridge she met her soon to be second husband, Homer Long who shared a wonderful, lovely life with Mazie until his death in1999. Mazie continued to volunteer at the Center and various hospitals until age prevented her from driving. She enjoyed her crossword puzzles and always greeted her dear and lovely neighbors with a smile of appreciation. She loved her pets and had a deep respect for animals and nature throughout her life. She had a wonderful, full life with little illness for which she was deeply grateful. She loved sharing time with family and friends. She was a member of St. Johns Methodist Church in Northwest Austin. All who knew her will miss her deeply.

Mazie is survived by her daughters Bonnie Ber and husband Tony of Conroe, Tx; Trudy Adams and husband Gene of Dripping Springs, TX; son Bob Burton and wife Lenna of Ashland, OR; two grandchildren Connie Pate Maier and husband Dr. Michael Maier of Sugarland, Tx; and Keith Pate of Austin, TX. Six great grand children: Meaghan, Matthew, Melanie and Mitchell Maier of Sugarland and Kalyn and Kody Pate of Austin. She is also survived by her sister-in law, who was like a sister to her, Maryanna Brod of Wharton, Tx.

The family expresses their deep appreciation and gratitude to Hannah O'Donoghue, Sharon Thompson and Susan Bethke for the love, compassion and comfort they provided to Mazie over the years.

A celebration of Mazie's life will be held Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 11:00am in the chapel of Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home with Reverend Pat Thomas from St. John's Methodist Church officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to The Austin Humane Society. www.austinhumanesociety.org Phone#: 512-685-0119