Abie Ann Brownshadel

Abie Ann Brownshadel, 96, of Austin passed away on June 26, 2022, following a brief hospitalization. She was born on March 9, 1926 to W. J. and Annie Hruska Duckett in East Bernard, Texas. She is preceded in death by her husband of 71½ years, Rueben L. Brownshadel; her parents; her brothers J. J. Duckett and L. L. Duckett; her sister Virginia Belt; and grandsons, Matt and Luke Brownshadel.

She is survived by her daughter Francie Frederick and husband David of Austin; her son Elton Brownshadel and wife Patti of Hempstead; grandchildren Lara Gibson and husband Steve of Austin and Blake Brownshadel and wife Laura of Dallas; and great-grandchildren Kate and Stephen Gibson and Matthew and Elle Brownshadel.

She graduated from East Bernard High School, where she was head cheerleader and played volleyball and softball; attended The University of Texas at Austin; and received an undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Houston and a master’s in education from Lamar University. She taught school during World War II on an emergency teaching certificate and taught elementary students in Newgulf in the Texas Gulf Sulphur Company school prior to moving to Nederland, Texas. She continued to teach in Nederland for more than 20 years prior to retirement. She and Rueben travelled extensively during retirement and hosted friends often in their home. They moved to Austin in 2008.

She was a wonderful mother, a devoted grandmother, a talented and impactful educator, and a loyal friend. She enjoyed being with family, cooking, working with puzzles, and sewing. She exercised daily, up until the day before her death, and routinely bested her daughter and granddaughter in solving the NYT Spelling Bee.

Special thanks to Hospice Austin, Dr. Edward Chafizedah and his nurse Laurie, Dr. Joseph Martinez, and the hospitalists and nursing staff of Ascension Seton Hospital Northwest as well as her special friends Catherine and Rose from Brookdale Westlake.

A family celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Austin or through an act of kindness.