Maude Elizabeth Sheaffer

Maude Elizabeth “Betty” Sheaffer of New Braunfels, Texas, passed away on Thursday, September 24th, 2026 at the age of 80. She was born on January 21st, 1946 in Houston, Texas where she grew up sailing at Kemah, hunting dove, quail, and duck with her father, and watching Colt 45 and Astros baseball games. She was ranked in the top 10 of trap shooters in the US at the age of 19. She enjoyed being in the Reagan High School Redcoats drill team, where she was an officer and travelled to New York City for her senior trip.

Betty graduated from The University of Houston in 1968 with a major in education and a minor in Spanish.

She worked as a middle school math teacher for 3 years in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Houston, Texas. She was a church secretary at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Houston, TX for 15 years, which allowed her to be present for and the head “bus driver” for all her children’s activities. She arranged flowers for 1800Flowers for a few years before becoming a church secretary at Coker Methodist Church in San Antonio, TX for 15 years.

Betty was actively involved in Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). Mom could proudly trace her lineage back to the first 300 fathers of Texas, as well as tell you about her great grandfather Texas Governor John Ireland, who was responsible for the Marble Falls pink granite on the state capitol. She was an avid Houston Astros baseball fan who attended games regularly, including the first World Series game in Houston in 2005. Mom collected tea paraphernalia, including over 70 teapots, and enjoyed baking and steeping tea for special occasions or an ordinary afternoon. She was a serious reader, gardener, serious about her Mexican food, and the hub of our family. She had a strong faith and was a member of the Daughters of the King for 46 years, focused on service and daily prayer.

Betty is preceded in death by her mother Maude, father Preston, brother Preston, sister-in-law Linda, and niece Wendy.

She is survived by her daughter Suzi, son John, daughter-in-law Brenda, sister-in-law Kathy, nephew John Schiwitz, and nephew Hart Schiwitz.

The family would like to thank the staff at Eden Hill and Hope Hospice for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in their final days.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Service at St. John’s Episcopal Church in New Braunfels, TX on October 17th at 10:00 am. Visitation with the family will begin following the service in the church parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in their honor to St. Jude’s Children’s.