Sara Bolton Ezell

Our beloved “mom” to Sylvia and Bruce, and “Nannie” to Nicole, Jonathan, Nicholas, and Christine, Sara Louise Bolton Ezell, 86, of Austin, Texas and formerly Friendswood, Texas, passed away peacefully and in comfort on Sunday, January 19, 2025. She was married to our wonderful Dad and Papa, Gary Guinn Ezell, for 38 years, until his unfortunate passing in 1997.

Sara taught middle school math and science for 35 years, before retiring from the Friendswood School District after 27 years of service. Her family moved to Friendswood in 1968 so that Gary could work on the Apollo Space Program. Many treasured memories were built raising their family in Friendswood, truly a special place during those times.

In 1996, Sara and Gary relocated to Austin, and Sara became the Nanny to her precious grandchild, Nicole. She then lovingly cared for Gary during his cancer battle, and returned to being a Nanny for another precious grandchild, Nicholas. During this time, she also devotedly cared for her mother-in-law, Ina, until her passing in 2010, as Gary was an only child. Sara’s in-laws, the late Ina and Jack Ezell of Matagorda, Texas, were an important part of their lives.

Sara had lots of energy. After she retired and moved to Austin, her life was filled with constant family and friend activities. She held many positions in the Texas Retired Teachers Association and was an active member of the American Association of University Women and Austin Newcomers. Sara and a group of friends enjoyed season tickets to the Austin Symphony and Zachery Scott Theatre. One of Sara’s biggest passions was playing bridge. She belonged to multiple bridge groups, playing many times a week. During COVID, they were so upset they could not play bridge in person that they figured out how to play online, which continued until her passing. Sara worked the voter polls at every election for many years. And, of course, she tutored her grandkids and neighbor kids in math because their parents couldn’t do it.

Sara and Gary bought a family beach house in Matagorda in the mid 1980’s, close to where they were raised. Many days were spent on their boat fishing the river and bays. Sara became an avid fisherwoman, and after Gary passed, Steve and Sylvia assumed the role of her personal fishing guides, which continued until recently. Along with frequent trips to Matagorda, Sara enjoyed traveling with the Meier family to places like North Carolina, New York, Iowa (Meier family home), Park City, Utah (many times) and Montana; and traveled with Bruce’s family often to their second home in Snowmass, Colorado, and Oregon to visit Nicole.

Mother’s Day celebrations were special with mom and the family. Many were celebrated at Austin Country Club. However, the one she talked about the most, was when Bruce’s neighbor, Matthew McConaughey and family, stopped by on their boat to wish her happy Mother’s Day. It was so cool, and, of course, she never stopped talking about it.

Sara was a 6th generation Texan, a descendent of family patriarch Col. Charles Louis Bolton, an early Texas settler in Wharton and Galveston Counties. Col. Bolton or his descendants were founders of Wharton, Texas, Wharton Baptist Church, Baylor Law School in Independence, Texas, and the Wharton Outlar Blair Clinic and Hospital. Col. Bolton also built the historical Bolton-Moody Strand building in Galveston, and was family friends with General Sam Houston. Dr. Bolton Outlar delivered both Sara and Sylvia.

Sara was born in Wharton, Texas to the late Louise Holliman and Leland Louis Bolton. Sara graduated from Wharton High School and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Lamar University and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Houston CLC. She was lovingly married to Gary Guinn Ezell for 38 years, from 1959 until his untimely passing in 1997.

Sara is survived by her daughter, Sylvia Ann Ezell Meier and her husband, Steve of Lakeway, Texas; and her son, Bruce Andrew Ezell, of Spicewood, Texas. Also surviving are her beloved grandchildren Dr. Oli Nicole Alexandra Ezell and their partner Cypress of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jonathan Andrew Ezell of Denver, Colorado, Nicholas Steven Meier of Austin, Texas and Christine Ann Meier of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by her niece Carolyn Skarzynski and her husband Jim of Richmond, Texas; nephew David Bolton and his wife Leah Ann of Alvin, Texas; and niece Louise O’Brien and her husband David of Macomb, Michigan, along with their collective children and grandchildren, Steven Bolton and wife Karen, Greg Bolton and wife Lauren, Daniel Bolton and wife Paolo, Jeff Skarzynski and partner Alice, James O'Brien, Julia O’Brien Husemeier and husband Alec; Elizabeth, Julie, Katherine, John David, Ty, Ryan, Luca, and Benjamin, ages 2 to 12. Sara is preceded in death by her husband, Gary Guinn Ezell, and her beloved brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Dolly Bolton of Friendswood, Texas.

The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Baylor Scott and White Hospital of Lakeway and Christopher House Hospice for their loving and compassionate care.

A Celebration of Sara’s Life and Reception will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the Weed Corley Fish Lakeway Chapel.

Arrangements under the direction of Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home Lakeway

411 Ranch Road 620 South, Lakeway, TX 78734 Ph: 512-263-1511 www.dignitymemorial.com