Carl Brown Teel Born in Dallas, Texas on Oct. 9, 1937

Departed on Apr. 27, 2009 and resided in Austin, TX. Visitation: Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2009 Funeral Service: Thursday, Apr. 30, 2009 Cemetery: Forest Oaks Mausoleum Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
Carl Brown Teel, beloved husband, father, grandfather, teacher and friend, died suddenly at home on Monday, April 27, 2009. He was 71.

Carl was born in Dallas to Edna Earl Teel and Claiborn Brown Teel on October 9, 1937. He grew up in Dallas and Carrollton before enrolling in Baylor University at age 16. He graduated from Baylor with a degree in English and spent several years teaching high school English and music in Houston. Carl then served in the army at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. He enrolled at North Texas State University and earned his master's degree in music in piano. After North Texas, he moved again back to Houston where he met the love of his life Karen Williams who was completing pediatric training at Baylor at the time. Carl and Karen married in 1968 in Houston, moved to Austin, and began their family three years later.

Fine music and family were always at the very center of Carl's life. For over forty years Carl taught piano privately in Austin to students of all ages. His endless patience and kindness made him especially skilled with beginner students. At the end of his life Carl had an active studio of 20 students. His students regularly performed public recitals and entered contests. For many years Carl was very active in the Music Teachers' Associations in locally and state-wide.

In addition to teaching, Carl had a very busy professional life. He served as the business manager for Karen's private pediatric practice for over 30 years and ran a rental house business out of his home with his father C.B. He somehow managed to do all of this while being an exemplary father and husband. In an era when men were not expected to be the primary caregivers for their children, Carl gladly—even joyfully—saw to the daily details and routines of family life, from cooking to taking kids to school. He seemed ever present and was ever-giving.

Growing up the child of a fantastic cook, Carl himself became a gourmet cook, and took special pride in the care and love with which he prepared a meal.

In addition to the pleasures of the table, Carl enjoyed the natural world, creating and maintaining a beautiful garden of roses, day lilies, irises, plumbago, lantana and tulips at his and Karen's newly-built home near Lake Austin. Carl took special pride in a beautifully-appointed home that was both pleasing to the senses and was a refuge for him and his family.

While Carl will be remembered for so many of his fine qualities—steadfastness, a terrific sense of humor, and gentleness—perhaps his greatest legacy is his kindness. Carl gave selflessly every day to his family, friends and students. The depth of sadness we all feel at his death is eloquent testimony to the depth of connection he sought out and maintained his entire life.

Carl was pre-deceased by his parents, Edna and C.B. He is survived by his wife, Karen Teel, and his children, Christopher Teel, Caroline Scott and husband Jeffrey Scott, and Anne Teel. In addition he is survived by his two grandchildren Duncan Claiborn and Ella Peyton Scott.

Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29th at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. A celebration of Carl's life will be held on Thursday, April 30th at 10:00 a.m. at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 3201 Windsor.

Serving as pallbearers will be Drs. Boyd Morgan, Robert Schlechter, Frank Robinson, Richard Blankenship, Mike Jarratt, and Jack Louis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Dell Children's Medical Center, Austin's Ronald McDonald House or classical music station, KMFA 89.5FM.

Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams