Camilla May Bordie

The family of Camilla May Bordie announces with sadness that she passed away peacefully after a long illness.   We miss her intelligence and gentle humor but most of all her kindness and love.

Camilla was born in Dallas, Texas on July 4th, 1933, the youngest child of Mr.  W. E. and Mrs. Ethel Berkley.   Her father, a civil engineer, was deployed as part of the Works Progress Administration to build infrastructure throughout the state of Texas.  Her father was away on projects for months at a time, eventually moving his wife, Camilla, and her much loved older brother John Brydson to Austin to be closer to family while he was away.  At a young age, Camilla learned the value of service from both her parents; she was proud of her father’s contributions and knitted her fair share of scarves and mittens in a program for neighborhood children organized by her mother for soldiers serving in World War II.  

After graduating from Austin High School, Camilla earned a BA from Columbia University, returning home to study law at the University of Texas.  She married Dr. John George Bordie on February 2, 1956, accompanying him to India and Pakistan while he finished his academic studies, later moving to Turkey.   Her first child, Andrew Edward, died as an infant in 1957 but was followed by her two surviving children, Robin in 1959 and Ralph in 1961.  After John was transferred to Washington, DC, Camilla earned an MA in children’s literature and began volunteering with Head Start.  Moved by the segregation still prevalent at the time and the poverty of the children she was working with, she became a supporter of the civil rights movement, taking her kids with her to watch some of the demonstrations that took place in the early sixties.

Once her children were old enough, Camilla returned to the University of Texas to complete her law degree, graduating in 1969.  She took a job at the Texas Legislative Council, expecting that it would provide her the ability to leave work in time to spend evenings with her family.  This quickly proved not to be the case but she also found herself fascinated by the workings of the Legislature, its big personalities, arcane system of rules and the political wrangling that determined what legislation would make it to the floor for a vote.

After a few years she moved over to the Texas Senate to work for Lt Governor William P. Hobby, who later appointed her Senate Parliamentarian.   She delighted in this role, the cast of characters who surrounded her and the richness it brought to her life.  It was here that she found her defining legislative cause, school finance reform, echoing her experiences with Head Start.  There were some trying moments.  It was sometimes difficult to balance the competing interests and periodic cat fights that marked the Senate calendar; we remember her remarking after a particularly hard day that she had learned everything she needed to know about politics from her two teenage children.

In retirement, Camilla and John relocated from Austin to her father’s family ranch in Dripping Springs.  Camilla continued to volunteer, first as a legal advocate for children and later in Dripping Springs at the Pound House, the Holy Spirit Episcopal Church and a local food bank.   Her biggest delight by far, however, was watching her two grandchildren, Nora and Calla, grow into talented and creative adults. 

Camilla lost John, her husband of 64 years in January. She is survived by her children, Robin and Ralph, son and daughter-in-law Andy and Patty, and grandchildren Nora and Calla.  Her children are grateful for the caring example that she set, the value she placed on service and equal opportunity and the joy that she took in her family. We will remember her driving us to and from Barton Springs on the endless hot summer afternoons, singing along with Dionne Warwick on the radio.

Given the COVID-19 outbreak, a memorial service will be organized at a later date.  In keeping with the needs of the times, the family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to local food banks.   

Remembrances may be shared at www.wcfish.com. – Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, Austin – (512) 452-8811.