Emily Joyce Adney

Emily Joyce Burden Stohler Adney, 72, of Burnet, Texas, died on April 22, 2025. She was born on October 24th, 1952, in Raymondville, Texas, to William Grady Burden and Joyce Gaynelle Boone Burden. Her early childhood was spent in San Perlita, where her father was appointed superintendent of schools, the youngest in the state at that time, then Banquete, then Raymondville, where she had wonderful childhood memories of growing up with her brother Bill and her girlfriends, who adored coming to her house with its warmth and hospitality. She participated in many high school activities and emerged as a natural leader, graduating as the student council president, accumulating many awards and honors. Emily started college at Sam Houston State University then transferred to the University of Houston, where she graduated at twenty years old in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Summa Cum Laude. Her next degree was earned by commuting 72 miles for five years (as a full-time teaching single mom) to receive her Master of Education from Texas State University in 1991, being named Outstanding Graduate Student for the School of Education.

Emily married Bill Stohler, who played football for the University of Houston, in 1971 and after graduation they moved to South Padre Island, where Bill began his hotel management career, then to the Historic Village Towne of Smithville, New Jersey, to work for ABC Television, Bill as resort manager and Emily as public relations director for the resort. Their son Billy was born in Somers Point, NJ in 1976. They later moved back to Alvin, TX, where they built and owned two restaurants, and where Rebecca was born in 1978. Then the family relocated to Liberty Hill, where the kids made memories including cheerleading, sports, horseback riding and fishing right in the neighborhood. It was a charmed childhood.

Emily married Kenneth Adney in 1993 and lived in Liberty Hill, Dripping Springs, Bee Cave, Spicewood and Burnet, building and selling houses as they went.

Emily's diverse educational work experience included the positions as elementary teacher, Certified Academic Language Therapist, District Reading Coordinator, System Curriculum Director, and Assistant School Superintendent for the Liberty Hill school system. Later, Emily, representing the Texas Education Agency, was proud of travelling extensively to central Texas area school districts, instructing teachers on evaluation procedures. After retirement, Emily became an adjunct professor at Texas State University, supervising classroom student teachers' training for education graduates, encompassing six school districts in the Austin area. She also supervised classroom teacher training as a consultant for Texas A&M University.

Emily was the epitome of an "outgoing personality". A typical story is that, as a five-year-old on her first day of school, her teacher sent a note home to her mother, saying she had to ask Emily to stop talking and get down off her desk. Emily's beautiful, confident smile and informal manner instantly put an individual or a large group comfortably at ease. Her dynamic personality was evident from her leadership roles in high school and throughout her career as an educator, administrator and adjunct professor. She was the light switch that turned on the party . She constantly cultivated and nourished her friendships, of which she had an abundance. She refused to allow late-in-life medical issues to dampen her love of life, spending time with her neighbor friends Jan, Diane, Martha and MaryAnn. Emily's faith was a great support in her battle with health issues. Emily was a member of Crosstracks Church, a United Methodist Church in Liberty Hill. Pastor Michelle Lott provided much-appreciated Christian support and guidance and was dearly loved by Emily. When Michelle was transferred, Rev. Dr. Brad King became a dear friend, who visited almost weekly.

Emily was preceded in death by her father, William Burden and her mother, Joyce Burden.

Emily is survived by her husband, Kenneth Adney, her children, Billy Stohler and Rebecca Wedel, son-in-law Derek Wedel, granddaughter Jasmine and her husband Joel Cruz, great-granddaughter Leia Joyce Cruz, grandson Jesse Cruz, and stepsons Will Adney, his daughters Katarina and Milena, and Marek Adney and his children Calista, Sadera, Odin, Freya and Thora. Minh Nguyen and her son Beau are special to Emily like a daughter-in-law and her child would be. Emily is also survived by her brother, Bill Burden and wife Lori, and their daughters, Jamie and husband Josh Moser and children Brooks and Dusty, Jennifer and husband Parker Bailey and daughter Hazel, and Julie and her husband Wayne Svetlik. Also surviving are Ken's brothers, Terry Adney and wife Dana and Wesley Adney and wife Linda, and sister Gail Kathleen Acord.

Emily found great comfort through all 25,000 who visited her Caring Bridge site.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Crosstracks Church in Liberty Hill at 10:00 on April 28, 2025, followed by a private family graveside ceremony at 2:00 pm at Greenwood Cemetery, Fredericksburg, reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bill Burden Elementary School Library, 315 Stonewall Pkwy, Liberty Hill, 78642.