Wayne Poe
Wayne Poe, 84, of China Spring and formerly of Wortham, peacefully departed his earthly body on Sunday, Dec. 11, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
“Pa Poe” was born on his family farm in Star, Texas, of Western Hamilton County, to Avery Poe and Lera (Flatt) Poe on Feb. 5, 1938. There they raised cattle, horses, turkeys and cotton. In 1956, he showed the Grand Champion Steer at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
He was the youngest of five children.
He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Agatha “Aggie” Baker Poe of China Spring; and his sons, Travis of China Spring, formerly of Mont Belvieu, and Tracy, now of China Spring, formerly of Stillwater, Minn.
Mr. Poe graduated from Star High School in 1956 before attending North Texas State University, where he received his Bachelor and Master’s degrees. He served numerous Central Texas schools as a teacher and school administrator, having served as superintendent of Star and Wortham Independent School Districts. He retired from Mexia ISD in 1995 after serving as the assistant superintendent of Finance. He later worked for John W. Erwin General Contractors, for whom he served as a liaison between Central Texas schools and the construction company.
During his many years of public education, Mr. Poe was named Honorary Member of numerous school organizations such as FHA and FFA. He was recognized by the NAACP for having successfully integrated the Wortham public schools. He was a charter member of the Wortham Lions Club and later held many offices in the Mexia Lions Club. He was also a charter member of the China Spring Education Foundation. In 2012, the newly constructed Wortham High School was dedicated to his service to that school district.
Upon retiring to China Spring, where he and Aggie built their retirement home on her family ranch, he enjoyed his time on the North Bosque River looking for arrow heads, fossils and trot-lining for yellow cats.
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Nelda Smith, Allen Poe, Geraldine Geeslin, Roland Poe, two infant sisters and niece Susan Reinert and nephews David Smith and Randy Poe.
Left to cherish his memory are numerous nieces and nephews, surrogate grandchildren, Grady Williams, Taylor Montgomery and JoBeth Rodriguez and surrogate great-grandchildren, Grant Williams, Kross Montgomery, Cutter Montgomery and Emmie Rodriguez.
Visitations will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at Renew Church, 6509 Bosque Blvd. in Waco from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. at Blair Stubbs Funeral Home, 605 S. McKinney St. in Mexia.
Funeral Services will be held at Wortham Methodist Church on Thursday, Dec.15 at 1 p.m. with Pastor Wayne Williams of Renew Church officiating. Casual dress is requested. Graveside services will be conducted on a later date at Hurst Ranch Cemetery in Star.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wortham Ex-Students Association, P.O. Box 174, Wortham, TX 76693; The China Spring Education Foundation, P.O. Box 40, China Spring, TX 76633 or The Hurst Ranch Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 325, Star, TX 76880.
