

Stella Payton Behrens passed away peacefully on July 9th, 2024 at the age of 96. A lifelong Austinite, Stella was born on March 26th, 1928 and grew up on her family’s farm, B.R. Payton and Sons Dairy, with her brothers and parents, Lydia and Billie Rufus (B.R.) Payton.
Stella graduated from Austin High School before going on to earn a degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. After marrying Charles Lenhart Behrens and devoting herself to raising their two daughters, who were their pride and joy, Stella worked as an accountant and retired from Texas Parks and Wildlife. She was a faithful member of her Sunday school class at Hillcrest Baptist Church; class members could count on receiving cards and regular phone calls from Stella letting them know she was thinking of them. Stella was an avid reader, an expert seamstress and needleworker, enjoyed watching sports and working puzzles, and maintained many friendships through the years by participating in bowling leagues and playing dominoes.
Stella’s most cherished legacy is her role as a loving and supportive “Nana” to her family. She will be deeply missed by her daughters, Claire Behrens Jackson and Karen Behrens Smith; Karen’s husband David B. Smith, Claire’s companion Tom Strickland; grandchildren Georgia Smith Lee and husband Andy, Amanda Jackson Sriram and husband Rishi, Sarah Jackson Muñoz and husband Chris, David Charles Smith and wife Faith, Julia Smith Nelson and husband Eric, Mark Jackson and partner Brandi Salazar; and great-grandchildren Caroline, Andrew, and Lorelai Lee; Ellis, Lily, Stella, and Levi Sriram; Nathaniel and Micaela Muñoz; Lyndon Smith; Elizabeth Nelson; Paisley Jackson and Arabella Salazar-Jackson. Stella was preceded in death by her parents, B.R. and Lydia Payton; husband, Charles Behrens; brothers, R.B. and Howard Payton; and grandson, Alexander Smith.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at Brookdale Westlake Hills Senior Living, especially Luci Castillo and her staff, and St. David’s Hospice and Family Care for their compassion during Stella’s final days.
Visitation with the family will begin at 10 o’clock on Wednesday, July 17th, 2024 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks with funeral services held at 11 o’clock. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms Foundation: https://www.pioneerfarms.org/donate
Online condolences for the family can be left at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com
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