Erna Buzbee

Erna Mae Buzbee was born September 13, 1932 near Georgetown, TX to Albert and Clara (Braun) Teinert. As the daughter of Wendish and German immigrant families, her first language was German. She and her three siblings attended a country primary school. In 1945 she and her family moved to Austin, TX where she completed Junior High and High School. Inspired by Clara Barton, she enrolled in Breckenridge School of Nursing, graduating as a registered nurse. During her time at Breckenridge, she met James (Jim) Meredith Buzbee of Mineral Wells, who was a student at the University of Texas. They were married on May 28, 1954 and made their home in Austin. Erna Mae served as a public health nurse in the Austin area until the family moved to Dallas and later Mineral Wells. She and Jim raised three children there while she continued her nursing career, working first in the hospital and as a school nurse for 20 years in the Mineral Wells ISD. During this time she started the "Well Child Clinic", enlisting local health professionals to volunteer to help local families in need by providing medical and dental care for their children. In addition, Erna Mae assisted her husband in starting Industrial Technology Inc. managing the books and taking care of secretarial needs until it grew into a successful company in Mineral Wells. When Erna Mae and Jim's children went to college, she did also. She had always wanted to complete her Bachelor of Science degree. After receiving her B.S. she went on to get her Master's degree in nursing and then taught psychiatric nursing at Tarleton State University including the clinical nursing for her students at Palo Pinto General Hospital. She also worked as a volunteer there for many years. Erna Mae was equally comfortable going to a classical concert and hiking around the ranch with her husband. She was gracious, kind and giving to everyone she met. Due to the success of the company, Jim and Erna Mae were able to set up the Buzbee Foundation through which they have been able to assist local and global initiatives to improve the lives of many. They spent their later years sailing up and down the east coast, traveling abroad and enjoying their grown children and grand children. She enjoyed painting and writing poetry. Erna Mae and Jim enjoyed their family, friends and church family at 1st Presbyterian Church and cherished many connections with the people they loved in Mineral Wells and beyond. Her friends and family will all miss her immensely. Erna Mae is survived by three children- Brad Buzbee, LeLynn Wilson, and Carla Osborn and eight grandchildren - Rachael, Brent, Lisa and Stephen Wilson and Trent, Eric, Avery, and Andrew Osborn as well as her sister - Vicki Hamann, her brother - Ed Teinert and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration Life will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, September 28 at Clark Gardens. Burial will be 12:30 p.m. at Woodland Park Cemetery.