Sheila Edith Edith Bourbeau

In Loving Memory of

Sheila Edith Bourbeau

5/31/1943 - 8/05/2025

Sheila Edith Nelms Bourbeau may have been small in stature, but she made up for that by dreaming big and living her life large.

Born May 31, 1943, in Houston, Texas, Sheila was the only daughter and youngest child of Mary Gladys and George Washington Nelms. She passed away in San Antonio, Texas, on Aug. 5, 2025 at the age of 82.

After graduating from Spring Branch High School in Houston in 1961, Sheila attended Sam Houston State University and later began working in Human Resources for Esso and Honeywell. She found her true vocational passion as she embarked on a successful real estate career in 1972, and prided herself in helping thousands of people find their homes – not just houses.

Sheila was licensed with Northside Realty in Atlanta, Ga., and joined Skipper Morrison Realty in 1974, where she concentrated on working with relocation clients, particularly employees of IBM, Eastman Kodak, 3M and General Motors. She made her first Million Dollar Club in her first year with Skipper Morrison.

She became a licensed broker in 1977 and was named a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Club in Atlanta in 1978.

Sheila returned to Houston in 1984 and joined Henry S. Miller Realty for 10 years before being recruited to join Heritage Texas Properties, where she worked for more than 26 years.

While at Heritage, she earned the prestigious Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) award as well as the Associate Buyers Representative (ABR) designation. She was in the top 2% of agents nationwide; was a Five-Star Award honoree as recognized by Texas Monthly magazine; and was named Agent of the Year numerous times.

Sheila married the love of her life, Ron Bourbeau, in December 1989. Together, they worked to build many professional business relationships.

After they moved to Spring, Texas, in 1998, Sheila continued to sell homes and won a trip for two to Europe. She also served on the Advisory Board for Trendmaker Homes.

Sheila continued to maintain her real estate license as a referring agent after she and Ron retired to Boerne, Texas, in December 2019.

She counts the many great relationships and friends she made during her professional career among her greatest blessings.

Survivors include her husband, Ronald A. Bourbeau, of the home; a daughter, Melinda Ann Collier of New Braunfels, Texas; a brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Cade and Mary Sydney Nelms; and many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Patrick and Lorene Lewis; Keith and Beaty Lewis; and Jere and Jean Ann Lewis.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Second Baptist Church's Hankamer Chapel, 6400 Woodway, Houston, Texas, on Aug. 29 at 10 a.m. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.