Galand S. Poe Jr.

Galand S. Poe, Jr., 82, went to be with the Lord on September 14, 2022, at his lake home in Emory, Texas. He was born to Galand S. Poe and Mary Elizabeth Harris Poe in Eastland, Texas, on June 4, 1940. He attended schools in Eastland and Dallas where he moved with his mother in 1953, and furthered his education at Ranger College, East Texas State University, and the IBM Programming School in Washington, DC.

He married Nell Frances Pringle in 1960. They had two daughters Gay Lynn and Penny Elizabeth, and one son Duane Samuel.  In 1973, he married Valorias (Val) Faye Howard and became stepfather to her daughters Rebecca Kay, Brenda Sue, and Vera Juanita and sons Kenneth Earl and Michael Gene.

During his high school years in Dallas, he became interested in rodeo and was mentored by Neal Gay, his Sunday School teacher and founder of the Rafter G Rodeo in Texas. He rode bulls, bucking horses, and bulldogged at rodeos from 1954 thru 1967. He still wore the belt buckle he won as All Around Champion Cowboy at East Texas State University. Lifelong friendships were built during those years.

Galand Poe’s work career began as a 14 -year -old, after school truck driver (without a license) for a furniture company. He worked in construction as a plumber and electrician. In 1964 after graduating from IBM Programming School, he became one of the first programmers for Braniff Airlines. He also worked for NASA, John Sealy Hospital, and Bank of America as a programmer/analyst.

After retirement, he owned a computer sales and software development company, Val’s Tackle Shop, Val’s Landing Marina and Restaurant, and an RV park.  His hobbies included fishing, golfing, hunting, PBR bull ridings, and going to bass tournaments with Val, who was a tournament fisherwoman. He was proud to have “netted” the record bass “Ethel” for bass guide Mark Stevenson in 1987 at Lake Fork.  Two of their pastimes were cooking for young peoples’ groups on Wednesday night at Lake Fork Baptist Church and the yearly Beavers Bend Retreat.  

Survivors include daughters: Gay Lynn Banos and partner Robert Edwards and Penny Elizabeth Hill and husband Michael, stepdaughters: Brenda Sue Case and Vera Juanita Shipp and husband Doug, stepson: Kenneth Earl Howard and fiance Deana Meredith and hosts of grandchildren and great grandchildren; sister: Gay Poe Hart.

He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents: Dr. William Samuel Poe and Bertie Evelyn Holbrook Poe, maternal grandparents: George Mack Harris and Catherine Murry Harris, father: Galand S. Poe, mother: Mary Elizabeth Harris Vaught, wife: Val Faye Poe, son: Duane Samuel Poe, stepdaughter: Carolyn Gayle Howard and Rebecca Kay Pruett and stepson: Michael Gene Howard.

Memorial Service Emory, Texas, Lake Fork Baptist Church, 2:00 P.M., October 1, 2022 with cremains burial immediately following the services at Lake Fork Cemetery, Alba, Texas.