Odell I. Kauffman, 99, of Brownsville, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at her residence. “My mom, Odell Kauffman, while raring 9 children, got up every morning at 6 am and grated 12 ears of corn and half a dozen coconuts. She fed everyone and got them off to school and taught piano lessons to students starting at 7am, one for each hour, until 11 a.m.; She then prepared lunch for all of us as well as a paid professor. At 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., she started with students again, prepared supper for all of us, including the paying professor, and went to the sewing machine at 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. making garments for sale. She always prepared extra food of whatever available in case some stranger came by for something to eat. After a serious surgery, she went to school and secured a licensed medical provider and continued with this work for many years. She then went on to being a secretary for a law firm that developed into new opportunity as hotel manager in Puerto Rico. During these years, she joined the Fred Astaire dance studio and went on to win first prize in many states for all type of dance including tango, rumba, waltz etc. She attempted retirement at age 74 in Port Isabel, Texas where she performed numerous clerk jobs include sales at a Shell and gift store, and lastly working with youths at the American pageant. My mom was a serious walker. She got up at 6 a.m. and walked one to two miles each morning, up to age 83. She underwent brain surgery at age 85 then went on to baking and cooking at the church, feeding the homeless. She perfected every kind of hand craft available, making gifts for all my friends and family. She lost sight in one eye and hearing in one ear yet never complained one day, except for saying she missed being able to read or do her handcraft. In midst of requiring caregiver service at age 94, she was still able to teach her caregivers many recipes in cooking and baking. She had an unswayed spirit and untiring spirit.” ~ Daughter Aloha Adelstein She was preceded in death by her first husband, Jason Hurlston; second husband, John Heitman; and third husband, Edgar Kauffman; four sons: Gilford Hurlston, Wenthworth Hurlston, Radcliff Hurlston, and Rawlett Hurlston; parents, Crosby and Agnes Tatum Ebanks; three brothers: Ellsworth Ebanks, Earl Ebanks, Lester Ebanks; four sisters: Selva Ebanks, Laurel Ebanks, Vivian Ebanks, and Lugurdy Laban. Surviving her are her children: Aloha Adelstein, Joseph T. Hurlston, Lorna L. Hurlston, Elizabeth Herbst, and Charles Curtis Heitman; 17 grandchildren; as well as several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 29, 2017 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito, Texas. A chapel service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 30, 2017 at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Mont Meta Memorial Park. You may sign the online guestbook and send words of comfort, flowers, or sympathy cards to the family of Odell I. Kauffman at: www.thomaegarza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors and Crematorium, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.