Emma Jewel Goodwin

On a peaceful night in Bertram, Texas, on August 4, 2020, Emma Jewel Goodwin’s name was called to enter the glorious gates of heaven. We think that heaven has already probably named her the “General of the Angels.” No doubt, she will still watch over us and surround us with her love. Emma Jewel fought a courageous battle with cancer, even beating it once, but finally losing her brave, unending fight, when the cancer returned for a dreadful second time.

Some say that it is the dash between the day you were born and the time that you die that matters most. Emma Jewel’s dash, the life she lived, was abundantly full. She “praised the Lord for as long as she lived” (Psalm 146: 2).

This blue-eyed beauty burst into the world on December 2, 1934. She was born in the unique community of Bertram, Texas, to W.D. Ruble and Jewel Reynolds Ruble. Her father, W.D., was a well-known cattle buyer and rancher. She was a special gift from God, and “Sis” to her older brothers: Milton, 11 years her senior, and James Kenneth, 13 years her senior. Emma was a golden-locks girl who soon had her brothers wrapped around her finger, showing them who truly was the “boss.” Emma Jewel attended all 12 years in Bertram Schools, and it is no one’s surprise that she was Class Favorite, Head Cheerleader and Miss BHS. She left the small town of Bertram to obtain her teaching degree in what was then called Southwest Texas State Teachers College. She made many lifelong friends while studying home economics. Upon her senior year of college, Emma received the very highest honors the college could bestow.

While still in San Marcos, she married her best friend E. B. Goodwin. Emma Jewel taught at Navarro High School, working to put E. B. through college. After that time, they returned to their hometown of Bertram. Their lives seemed even more complete, when they welcomed two daughters, Sharon and Carla into the world. Emma Jewel was a beautiful role model to her girls, and through the span of years, through laughter, worry, smiles, and tears, the relationship grew into the incredible bond of mother and daughters as best friends, a link that can never be broken.

Family was always first for Emma. And along with family came numerous areas of interest for the talented Emma Jewel. E.B. and Emma Jewel were ranchers raising cattle. They were hunters of deer and elk in Colorado. Emma Jewel also had a successful 32-year career teaching home economics in Bertram and Burnet High Schools. The lives she touched in this time period of her life are endless. And even recently, Emma was right there present with her former students on Facebook, keeping in touch and receiving friend requests and numerous inquiries as to what was going on with “Mrs. Goodwin.”

After E. B.’s death in 1986, Emma continued the ranching business, as best she could. When she wasn’t teaching or taking care of the home, she was mending fences and hauling hay. Once again, she showed everyone that ranching was just not for men, when she named Burnet County Rancher of the Year in 2006.

Her talents included indoors as well as outdoors. One of Emma Jewel’s great hobbies was cooking. She was legendary for her peach cobbler and oatmeal cookies. She enjoyed traveling to Chuck Wagon contests all over Texas, and especially Ruidoso New Mexico, with her friend and head cook, Phil Rodgers and her two daughters. Many more times than not, she would win first place or at least place in the top three with her famous peach cobbler and biscuits.

But above all, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the highlight of her life. She taught them to cook, clean, mend fence, pull calves, haul hay, and most of all be a person of faith, honesty, and integrity. Although Tober and Livi Jewel (her namesake) didn’t get to know “Great Gran” very well, they both knew they were loved beyond measure.

Emma Jewel was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in Bertram, founding Member and Director of the Oatmeal Festival, Board of Directors for the Bertram Nursing Home Association, and Bertram Development Corporation.

Emma Jewel is survived by her daughters, Sharon Schwartz (Gordon Schwartz), Carla Denison (Benny Butler), grandchildren Lindsey Denison Martin, Clay Cotton (Abbie Cotton),Lukas Denison (Amanda Moon), and Leah Cotton.

She is survived by her great grandchildren Tober Martin and Livi Jewel Martin, Step-Grandchildren Lynae Stevens (Mark Stevens), Katy Hausenfluke (Matt Hausenfluke), and Cory Schwartz and Step-Great grandchildren Christopher, Nathan, Addison, and Reagan Hausenfluke. She is also survived by her lifelong best friend, Glenn Ringstaff, who had a very special place in her heart.

She was preceded in death by her husband E.B. Goodwin, parents W.D. and Jewel Ruble, brothers Milton Ruble (Ruth Ruble), and James Kenneth Ruble (Mary Ruble), and grandson-in-law Jed Martin.

The family would like to thank New Century Hospice (Shannon, Sam, and Christie), her nextdoor neighbor Bob Thayer, caretaker Pat Taylor, good friend Launa Rupert, and the many friends and relatives who played a special part of her life. The list is unending.

The life of Emma Jewel Goodwin was a beautiful song. She was and will forever be our beloved family matriarch who leaves an extraordinary legacy for us to follow, one of goodness and love for others.

“A limb has fallen from the family tree

I keep hearing a voice that says, “Remember the best times,

the laughter, the song, the good life I lived while I was strong.

Continue my heritage. I’m counting on you.

Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through.

My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.

Remembering all, how I truly was blessed.

Continue traditions, no matter how small.

Go on with your life; worry not about occasional falls.

I’ll miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin

Until the day comes when we’re together again.”

- Anonymous

Officiating – Gordon Bergstrom, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Bertram.

Pall Bearers: Clay Cotton, Lukas Denison, Cory Schwartz, Gordon Schwartz, Benny Butler, Chris Denison, Paul Barnes, and James Ridge.

Honorary Pall Bearer: Jed Martin

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Oatmeal Festival Scholarship Fund, Bertram Development Corporation, or First Baptist Church-Bertram.

Arrangements were made by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet.

Condolences may be offered by going to www.clementswilcoxburnet.com