Dorothy Maud Norris Muehlhause Beauchamp

Dorothy Maud Norris Muehlhause Beauchamp, 82, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2020 at the Oaks Nursing Home in Burnet with Mary and Karen at her side. John and Karen felt blessed to see Dorothy’s beautiful smile the day before she left to be with our Lord.

Dorothy (called Maudie by many) was born to Leslie and Nell Norris on January 11, 1938. She was a devoted mother and wife. She will be deeply missed by friends, family and all who knew her.

Dorothy graduated from Burnet High School in 1956. During high school, she worked at Kuykendall’s Drug Store on the square. Upon graduation, she worked for the Red Cross in both Dallas and Washington, D.C.

Dorothy first married in 1960. She and Walter Muehlhause lived in Corpus Christi, where she worked at the naval base on a very large computer. In 1967, the family of five moved back to Burnet, where Dorothy worked at the Burnet Savings and Loan for many years.

She was a faithful member of the Burnet Presbyterian Church, where she was an ordained elder and deacon and served the denomination on governing body committees as well. The family lived at “The Place” on Highway 29 between Burnet and Bertram for many years, and it was the site of many family and church get-togethers.

Dorothy remarried in 1984 and moved to Del Rio with Richard Beauchamp, who was a school teacher as well as a Sunday School teacher at First Presbyterian Church in Del Rio. Richard passed away in 2009.

Dorothy was a member of First Presbyterian, where she served on the Session. While in Del Rio, Dorothy went back to school and earned her degree in education and taught second grade. Dorothy was a long-time volunteer with the Val Verde County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, where she worked in the gift shop.

Music was an important part of Dorothy’s life. She sang in the Burnet Presbyterian Church choir and loved many genres of music. Dorothy played the violin in high school and in later years played duets at home with Karen on the piano.

Dorothy’s hobbies also included reading, sewing, genealogy, and taking leisurely road trips. One of her favorite trips was to Burnet with her daughters in Summer 2018, when she attended a Norris family reunion and got together for supper with her friends from the Class of 1956.

In January 2019, she was very happy to move with Karen back to Burnet, where she could be with family and friends and see the wildflowers in the Spring.

She is preceded in death by her husband Richard N. Beauchamp, her sister Mary Nell Barton, and her brother Paul Norris.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Karen Muehlhause Brock of Burnet, Mary Muehlhause Huckabay and her husband Brian of Galveston, and John Muehlhause of San Gabriel, and by grandchildren Erin Huckabay Giblin and her husband Ronnie, Corey Huckabay and Cade Huckabay.

She is survived by her brothers Joe Norris and his wife Linda, and David Norris and his wife Grace. Also surviving Dorothy are eleven nieces and nephews.

A memorial service celebrating Dorothy’s life was held at the Burnet Presbyterian Church on May 30, 2020. A graveside service will be held next to her parents’ resting places in the Burnet Cemetery in the Fall.