Elmae Browder

Elmae was born at home in Fostoria, Texas, to Elmer and Maggie Young Boyd. Here she attended elementary school in a four room schoolhouse.

Her family then moved to Cleveland, Texas, where she attended Cleveland Junior High and Cleveland High School. Active and accomplished, she was a member of Future Homemakers of America (FHA), pep squad, National Honor Society, photography club, and the volleyball team. She served as secretary of the freshman class and president of the junior class; was a two year homecoming duchess; and received a Daughters of the American Revolution scholarship in her senior year.

She attended Baylor University, earning a degree in teaching, and became a lifelong member of the teaching sorority Delta Kappa Gamma. Here she volunteered for mission work to help underprivileged children and participated on various committees in dormitory activities. She fondly recalled how she and her friends successfully petitioned to move the all girl dorm curfew from 8:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The reason she chose teaching as a profession was because it was a chance to be a positive influence in the development of the lives of children. She was always proud to say, "I touch the future…..I teach”.

Elmae began her teaching career in LaMarque, Texas, as a PE teacher, where she first earned the name “Mrs. B,” by which her students would know her for the rest of her life. At a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting, she was introduced to Terry Odell Browder. They married in 1957 and raised two daughters, Janie and Jill. In 1967, the family moved to Houston where Elmae paused classroom teaching to raise their daughters, but soon returned to her calling.

After retiring, Elmae and Terry settled in The Hills of Texas. Retirement did not keep her from teaching. She taught for many years at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Austin and later taught and volunteered at Lakeway Church Preschool. She was known for her warm smile and a special fondness for children and dogs.

Life was full of adventure, either lost in a new novel or joining whatever scheme Terry cooked up. Their travels and adventures included hot air balloon rides, camping in Sequoia National Forest, parasailing in Acapulco, cruises to the Caribbean, driving Vespas in Italy, camel rides in Morocco, and pub crawls in England. She and Terry explored much of the U.S., Europe, and Scandinavia, often with friends and family.

Elmae is survived by her daughters Janie Sheehan and Jill Nordahl; sons in law David Sheehan and Gunnar Nordahl; and grandsons Austin Sheehan, Charles Sheehan, and Alexander Nordahl.

A celebration of life will be held June 6, 2026, from 2:00–4:00 p.m. at Weed Corley Fish, 411 Ranch Rd. 620 S., Lakeway, TX 78734.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial gift to to Power for Parkinson’s https://www.powerforparkinsons.org/tribute