Wayne Poe
Wayne Poe, 84, of China Spring and formerly of Wortham and Star, peacefully departed his earthly body on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, Jan. 14, in Hurst Ranch Cemetery near Star.
“Pa Poe” was born on his family farm in Star to Avery Poe and Lera (Flatt) Poe on Feb. 5, 1938. He was the youngest of five children. They raised cattle, horses, turkeys and cotton.
In 1956, he showed the Grand Champion Steer at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Mr. Poe graduated from Star High School in 1956 before attending North Texas State University, where he received both his Bachelor and Master’s degrees. He served numerous Central Texas schools as a teacher and school administrator, having served Star and Wortham Independent School Districts as superintendent. He retired from Mexia ISD in 1995 after serving as Superintendent of Finance.
During his many years of public education, Mr. Poe was named an 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 looking for arrowheads, fossils and trot-lining for yellow cats on the North Bosque River.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Nelda Smith, Allen Poe, Geraldine Geeslin, Roland Poe and two infant sisters; niece Susan Reinert; and nephews David Smith and Randy Poe.
He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Agatha “Aggie” Baker Poe of China Spring; his sons Travis of China Spring, formerly of Mont Belvieu, and Tracy of China Spring, formerly of Stillwater, Minnesota; 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.
Memorials may be made to the Wortham Ex-Students Association, PO Box 174, Wortham, TX 76693; The China Spring Education Foundation, PO Box 40, China Spring, TX 76633; or The Hurst Ranch Cemetery Association, PO Box 325, Star, TX 76880.
