Louis Charles Cagle

Louis Charles Cagle passed peacefully from this earthly world to join his wife, mother, father, three sisters, two brothers, and many friends in his heavenly home. While the world may be a little dimmer in his absence; the heavens are far brighter with his homecoming. His earthly family can only imagine his voice in song resonating in the heavens and the stories he will tell to the waiting crowd. At 100 years old he had a lifetime of stories to tell.

Louis was born on August 15, 1925, in Wister, Oklahoma. He was the first son and third child of Charlie Cagle and Mittie Gober Cagle, both natives of the area before Oklahoma achieved statehood. His father, a Navy veteran of World War I, carried shrapnel from his service, yet remained a man of great physical strength and unwavering character. A few years after Louis’s birth, the family moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where his father worked as a machinist building steam engines for the Cotton Belt Railroad.

Growing up during the Great Depression left a lasting impression on Louis. It instilled in him a deep sense of resilience, independence, devotion to family, strong faith, and an appreciation for life’s blessings. A natural leader with a spirited personality, Louis found adventure and joy in nearly everything he did—sometimes testing the patience of his parents and teachers along the way.

In 1942, at just 17 years old, Louis enlisted in the United States Navy. Having previously tried to join at age 16, he was finally given his parents’ blessing to begin this next adventure. He served four years, first in the North Seas off the coast of Norway, and later in major battles throughout the Pacific during World War II. Though he was credited with shooting down a kamikaze plane that exploded and scattered debris across his ship, like many veterans of his generation, he rarely spoke of his wartime experiences.

Louis met the love of his life, Mildred Jean Brackin, while attending college in Monticello, Arkansas. It took this spirited, dark-haired beauty of Scottish and English descent from the Arkansas cotton fields to tame him. Mildred captured his heart and became his lifelong partner. They married in 1949 and soon began building their family together.

Louis began his career with the Cotton Belt Southern Pacific Railroad as a switchman. Through hard work and dedication, he advanced to Assistant Terminal Trainmaster in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Terminal Trainmaster in East St. Louis, Illinois; and ultimately Trainmaster in Tyler, Texas, in 1970. After retirement, he enjoyed ranching, hunting, fishing, and, most of all, time spent with his family—always ready with a story to entertain.

Mildred Jean Cagle passed away at the age of 92. Louis missed her dearly in the four years that followed.

Louis is survived by his daughter, Elaine Osteen and her husband Dale; his son, Ernie Cagle and his wife Becky; and his beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Amy Osteen and her husband Houston, Jeff Osteen and his wife Toshie, Stephen Cagle and his wife Carol, Christopher Cagle and his wife Sara, Dylan Cagle, Ryan Cagle, Micah Howell, Maddox Howell, Hailey Cagle, and Ashley Cagle.

The family extends their sincere appreciation to the staff at Meadow Lake Senior Living and his devoted sitters, Peaches, Mattie, and Aimee, for the love, dignity, and comfort they provided Louis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Camp V, 3212 W Front St, Tyler, TX 75702, supporting local veterans (www.campvtyler.org).

A graveside service will be held at Cathedral in the Pines Memorial Garden in Tyler on Saturday, May 2, at 3:00 p.m. Guests are invited to the home of Ernie and Becky Cagle following the service.