Elmer Louis Agee was born February 17, 1933 to Clarence and Jessie Caudle Agee in Saltillo, Texas, and departed this earth for his heavenly home on January 29, 2022. Over his nearly 89 years, Louis was known and beloved for his warm and inviting nature, wry sense of humor, strong work ethic and abiding love of God, home and family.
A third-generation native Texas, Louis was raised in the Old Saltillo community, near the Hopkins and Franklin county line. His great-grandparents settled in the community in 1853 and helped form what would later become the Old Saltillo United Methodist Church, which Louis attended along with a host of extended family members. He completed his primary education at the rural Franklin County Union School.
Louis graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1951 and always cherished the memories and friendships formed during his years as a Mount Vernon Tiger, especially playing four winning seasons of football for the legendary Texas Sports Hall of Fame Coach “Catfish” Smith. As a teenager, to supplement his family’s modest farming income, Louis undertook his first public work, using the family’s newly purchased tractor to begin mowing the Gulf pipeline. He would continue farming and mowing for Gulf in the years immediately following graduation.
In March of 1953, Louis was hired to roughneck for the Penrod Drilling Company in the oil fields around Madisonville, Texas. Two months later, May 26, 1953, he returned to Mount Vernon to marry Jo Ann Castle of the Greenwood community. The newlyweds called Madisonville home, and would later welcome two sons into this world, Randy and Joe Dan. The growing family returned to Northeast Texas to care and farm for Louis’ ailing father until his passing; and then moved to Mount Vernon, where Louis would find work at the Wells Lamont glove factory and the Hoffman Moore Ford Dealership, and later at Lone Star Steel in Lone Star, TX.
In 1959, Louis and Jo Ann moved to Garland, Texas, where they would raise their sons. The same year, Louis joined Sterling Drug, where he would work until the pharmaceutical company’s facility closure in 1986, which prompted Louis’ return to ‘country life’. Louis aspired to make a living on his own terms, at his own pace, and on his own Hopkins County farm, which he and Jo Ann purchased in 1961. That opportunity came in the form of early retirement from Sterling Drug at the age of 53.
In the years that followed, Louis and Jo Ann would grow their cattle operation across three counties. During this period, the couple became active in Greenwood Baptist Church. Louis would eventually join the church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent, sponsoring RA Boys’ outings, serving on church committees and supporting various church activities. Louis and Jo Ann traveled extensively with friends and family, crisscrossing the US and beyond.
By 2010, the couple retired (again) to spend more time with family, especially their great-grandchildren. It was during this period that Louis began navigating his years-long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease, with the help of family members, dear friends and the exceptional ownership and staff of the Mount Vernon House (2019-2021) and Carriage House Manor (2021-2022).
Louis was proceeded in death by his parents, Clarence and Jessie Agee; his parents-in-law, Aubrey and
Hazel Castle; and sisters, Wilma Ramsay and Billye Jean Crane.
Louis is survived by his wife of 68 Years, Jo Ann Castle Agee; sons, Randy (Patti) of Sulphur Springs and Joe Dan (Lorri) of Mount Vernon; grandchildren, Ryan Agee, Trapper Pace, Ginnifer Agee Doyle (Landon) and Daniel Agee (Amanda); and great-grandchildren, Aubrie, Avery, Lexie, Layton, Ellie Jo, Kabel and Andie Mae.
The Agee family will host a come and go visitation Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at West Oaks Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs from 4 to 7 pm. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. February 5, 2022, at the Old Saltillo United Methodist Church with Trapper Pace officiating, followed by refreshments and fellowship in the Woodrow Kirby Memorial Center of OSUMC.
In lieu of flowers, the Agee family requests contributions in Louis’ memory to the Old Saltillo Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 123, Saltillo, TX 75478. Louis served on the Old Saltillo Cemetery Association Board
of Directors for over 30 years, and was immeasurably proud of the works accomplished to preserve and
beautify this Texas State Historic Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral
Home. www.westoaksfuneralhome.com
