Don Poe

DONALD “DON” GENE POE, age 77, of Katy, Texas passed away on February 25, 2012 surrounded by family following a brief illness related to ALS. He was born on a farm December 5, 1934 in O’Brien, Texas the youngest of seven children, and is preceded in death by his parents Lonzo and Bertie Poe, brothers Theodore and Oather Poe, sister Leonia Raby, brother-in-law Ed Broach, and step-son Eddy Joe Assiter.

Don attended McMurry College in Abilene, Texas and as a young man began a lifetime career in the oil patch starting out with Cities Service Oil Company in Aspermont, Texas which brought him to Houston in the mid-sixties.

In 1974, Jimmie became a widow and joined the newly formed Single Parents Class at Tallowood Baptist Church. Then in 1975, Jimmie and Don Poe met through the Class, and during their first date, they learned that he knew and had lived by Jimmie’s in-laws in Aspermont, Texas. They felt an instant connection.

Don and Jimmie met many wonderful people through the Church and Sunday School including two couples they added as family. Betty and Ralph Brown, and Lynn and Tom Branch.

On April 12, 1979, Don and Jimmie were married. They marveled from the beginning how God had put them together. They are now members of the First Baptist Church of Katy.

In his later years Don became an independent landman forming Don Poe & Associates and became well-known in the industry. He was very proud to be voted the Houston Petroleum Landman Association “Landman of the Year” for 1995. In 1996, Don moved his office to his home in Katy with plans to “semi-retire” only to find himself a new path in Oil and Gas auctions. How he loved a new challenge!

Through the Oil and Gas auctions, Don made more new friends. From one, he learned of Nano Technology. Off he went with the many applications of this technology. This afforded Don a new opportunity to add a new group of friends with this common interest from Rice University to the many from levels of our state and federal government.. This spurred the creation of Riley Corporation by Don and his two partners. This company was driven by Don’s strong patriotism and pride of being an American and with hopes they could use Nano Technology in providing a new level of safety for the armed forces of the United States of America.

In 1986, Don and Jimmie moved to then small subdivision in Katy, Texas of Pin Oak Village. Don was very involved and took great pride in preserving the beauty and uniqueness of Pin Oak Village and held positions as the President of the HOA and as a MUD Director for many years. Don hoped he would have the chance to stay on the MUD Board until their Bonds were retired and the MUD would be “debt-free”. He did and he was proud to be a part of the bond burning celebration.

Don was the happiest cheering his beloved Katy High School Tigers at Rhodes Stadium with Jimmie at his side waving her red and white pom-poms. He was affectionately known by Tiger fans as “The Barker” and was heard throughout the stadium. Don and Jimmie took every chance they could to show their pride of the youth in the community. This community responded with a true showing of love through many acts, including taking Don and Jimmie to the football games this last fall and then presenting him with a cherished football by Coach Joseph that had the signatures of all the Katy High School football players.

Don was a man of immense spiritual faith and very devoted to Jimmie and his family and will be truly missed. He thoroughly enjoyed people and never met a stranger in his life. It has been said that once you became a friend of Don’s you were his friend for life. As his family and friends know, Don had a larger than life personality and would fill any room he entered. His stature was eclipsed only by the size of his heart as he was always ready to help anyone in need whenever the opportunity arose.

In addition to his loving wife Jimmie, Don is survived by his sisters Edith Broach, Betty Poe and Mary Reddell, sister-in-law Mary Sue Mosley and brother-in-law Keta Mosely. Don leaves behind his three children, Kathy Turner and husband Keith, Jerry Poe and Rick Poe and wife Lisa. Don was also a very proud “Dad by Choice” to Suzan Assiter Zachariah and husband Zach, Shelli Assiter Blazar and husband Brad and Edward Joe Assiter (deceased). Known by “Pap Paw” to his grandchildren Dwaine Perry and wife Tonia, Blake Poe, Dustin Poe, Chelsea Poe, Carson Poe, Dillon Poe, Cooper Zachariah, Kodee Zachariah Roraback and husband Dan, Ivy Assiter and Brooke Blazar along with his great-grandson Colby Perry. Don is also survived by his loving daughter-in-laws Patti Assiter Davis and husband Troy, Sharon Poe and his beloved four-legged companion, Kati “Tiger”.

The family wishes to thank all of Don and Jimmie’s friends who have offered their love and support along with the many prayer groups and churches that have prayed for Don’s peace and comfort. We also recognize the warmth and comfort provided by his physicians and the wonderful staff at Memorial Herman Katy Hospital and Kindred Hospital.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 - 4:00 pm Thursday, March 1, 2012 at the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home followed immediately by a Celebration of Life memorial service in the Chapel presided by Don and Jimmie’s dear friend Paul Nielsen.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to be made to the Don and Jimmie Poe Memorial Katy High School Football Scholarship Fund at Enterprise Bank in Katy, Texas to the attention of Greg Murray. www.mybank-enterprise.com/location-katy.asp.