Louis deSpain

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend, Louis V. deSpain, departed this world on Friday, July 24, 2015. He was born in Gouldbusk (Coleman County), Texas on July 12, 1935 and succumb to lung cancer after a lengthy illness at the age of 80. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lily Mae Pearl DeSpain and James Ratliff DeSpain, infant brothers Dennis and Donald, and sisters, Merle Sanders, Ruth DeSpain, and Edie Cravey and beloved brother-in-law Jessie Cravey. He is survived by his husband of over 35 years, Kenneth L (“Ken”) Newman, daughters Annette Kast (husband David Kast), Darla Monette Peterson (husband David Werner), grandchildren Ivory Anderson, Loison Kast, Logan Kast, brothers Wayne DeSpain (wife Ann DeSpain) and Johnnie DeSpain (wife Chris DeSpain), nieces and nephews, Judy Hovey, Roger (“Buck”) Vail, Steve Cravey, Mike Cravey, Gary Cravey, Donna Palmer, Becky Connell, Lee Ann Havelka, Wendy Guerra, Melissa Schroeder, Pam Ratliff, Karen Cozby, Paula Bode, and numerous great and great-great nieces, nephews and cousins. He was raised in several farming communities in west Texas, including Little Saline, London, Kerrville, Marble Falls and Belton. In the 1950s, he graduated from Austin’s Nixon-Clay Business College and worked for a construction company in Austin. When he could no longer ignore the call to the ministry, he enrolled and graduated from a bible college in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was married, ordained and began his ministry in Golina Park, Texas, where his two daughters were born. After four years of marriage, he divorced and moved to San Francisco, California. This period of his life was chronicled in a chapter of the book “But Lord They’re Gay” by Rev. Sylvia Pennington. He worked for a large leasing company, graduated from a school of fashion design, taught costume history, formed his own fashion design business, and also continued his ministry with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches at MCC San Francisco. After living 19 years in San Francisco, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he pastored MCC Albuquerque and met the man who became his husband. They moved to Austin, Texas to be closer to Louis’ family, where he served for a time as assistant minister at MCC Austin, then moving on to health care work and Occupational Therapist with Brown Schools Ranch Treatment Center. He retired and he and his husband moved to a historic home in Bastrop, Texas. Louis volunteered his time as costume designer/maker and managed reservations and ticketing for the Bastrop Opera House, and taught porcelain doll making for Austin Department of Recreation while making and selling his own dolls. After such an active and talented life, he has gained many, many treasured friendships. Louis will be sorely missed by his family, friends and acquaintances. He leaves this world a richer and more loving place having shared his affection and wisdom with all who were fortunate enough to have known him.

Viewing will be held Friday, August 7, 2015, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet, TX. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 8, 2015, at 10:00am also at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, with grave side services to follow immediately after at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park, 4219 Park Rd 4 S, Burnet, TX 78611. Pall bearers will be Ken Baker, Gary Cravey, Mike Cravey, Paul Hovey, Logan Kast, and Paul St Louis.

Arrangements were made by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet.

Condolences may be offered by visiting www.clementswilcoxburnet.com