Paul Ethelard Sapaugh, 89, went home to our Lord on November 26, 2017, in Bryan, TX. Paul’s loving wife of sixty-six years, Johnnie Sapaugh, 93, passed away a few hours later on November 27, 2017, in Bryan, TX. What a blessing from God that, after sixty-six years together, they passed into His presence at the same time.
Johnnie was born to John Tabor and Bess Taylor in Shreveport, LA, on March 2, 1924. Paul was born to Floyd Sapaugh and Louise Reynolds Sapaugh in Texarkana, AR, on January 18, 1928. He graduated from Fair Park High School in Shreveport in 1945. Following a stint in the United States Army from May, 1946 to October, 1947, Paul returned to north Louisiana and married his lifelong companion on September 1, 1951, in Shreveport, LA. After graduating from Louisiana Tech in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering, Paul began a sixty-year career in the oil business. This took Paul and Johnnie from Shreveport, LA to Dallas, TX, Corpus Christi, TX, and Tyler, TX. They moved to Bryan, TX in 2012.
Johnnie was a giving person who loved being with people, especially her family. She absolutely adored her grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking for the family and tending to her flowers. Golf was Johnnie’s passion and she and Paul spent many hours on the golf course together.
Like Johnnie, Paul loved the game of golf. A good day for him was a morning of work, followed by an afternoon of lunch, dominoes, and eighteen holes at Willowbrook Country Club. Paul was known for his generosity and good sense of humor.
Johnnie is preceded in death by her husband Paul, her parents, and sister Eloise Thompson. Paul is preceded in death by his parents and sister Billie Jean Harter. Paul and Johnnie are survived by their son Greg Sapaugh, daughter-in-law Barbara Sapaugh, granddaughter Courtney Brown, son-in law Nathaniel Brown, granddaughter Caitlin Cox, son-in-law Jacob Cox, grandson Cameron Sapaugh, daughter-in-law Kellie Sapaugh, and great grandchildren Ragan Brown, Noah Brown, Claire Brown, and Ian Cox.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the many people who cared for Paul and Johnnie at the Isle at Watercrest, Hudson Creek Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, Hospice Brazos Valley, and Baylor Scott & White Hospital.
The memorial service will be Wednesday, December 6, at 11:00 a.m., in the Chapel at Green Acres Baptist Church, 1607 Troup Highway, Tyler, TX, 75701.