Rev. Franklin William & Lillian Ann Nogues

Reverend Franklin William “Bill” Nogues & Lillian Ann (Tampke) Nogues

May 18, 1937 – September 4, 2025 
August 20, 1939 – September 5, 2025

On September 4, 2025, at 6:37 a.m., our dear husband, Dad, “Daddy Bill,” brother, Pastor, uncle, and friend, Reverend Franklin William (Bill) Nogues, left his frail earthly vessel to be with our Heavenly Father. His wife of 66 years, Lillian Ann (Tampke) Nogues, was lying beside him, holding his hand, while daughters Susan knelt at his bedside praying the Lord’s Prayer and Katherine prayed over him. During the prayers, he slipped away gently and quietly, wrapped in love and peace. His daughters felt that Lillian was aware enough to know that he had passed, her hand still resting in his as he went Home. Bill has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he has kept the faith. As promised in 2 Timothy 4:7–8: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.” His body is now whole and restored.

Just 32 hours later, on September 5, 2025, at 2:46 p.m., our precious Lillian Ann (Tampke) Nogues—wife, mom, daughter, grand-mommy, sister, aunt “Nan,” loved one, and friend—passed peacefully from her beautiful earthly body as Susan and Katherine prayed, read scripture and sang many hymns to usher her to where the angels were singing. They did their best to do that well for her journey home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus, Bill, and family and friends that went before her.

We truly do not know the future set by our Lord and Savior, and we praise Him for His favor over these two beautiful souls. Bill’s silent prayers surely played a part in their faithful delivery together into eternity—mercifully without lingering suffering, but with peace and release into the arms of Jesus. This is what they both wanted.

Their family rejoices that Bill and Lillian were reunited so quickly into God’s Holy Kingdom in Heaven. To all who knew them, the mercy in their story is clear: spared from the sorrow of long separation, they stepped into Heaven together.

Early Life of Reverend Franklin William “Bill” Nogues

Bill was born May 18, 1937, in Daytona Beach, FL, to DeWitt Collier (Doc) Nogues and Ruby Jane (Franklin) Nogues, both of Austin, TX. At the time, his father was serving as a U.S. Air Force pilot ahead of and during World War II, and later in the Korean War.

Bill grew up in Austin with his brother, James Carter (Jim) Nogues, along Walnut Creek. The two brothers shared a spirited boyhood, full of adventures and antics—many told and some never told—running wild across their family’s ranch.

He was raised by ranchers whose roots stretched across the San Angelo, Tom Green, and Menard, Texas areas. His second-great-grandfather, William James Vaughan, built the Menard “Ditch” in 1874, an irrigation system that drew water from the San Saba River and remains part of local history.

Bill often spoke of the family members who shaped him: his parents; his paternal great-Grandmother Alice Whitaker Vaughan (Whittie) Noguess; his Grandfather William James (“Daddy Bill”) Noguess; Grandmother Will Carter (Crouch) “Bosie” Noguess; his maternal Grandparents Hezekiah K. (K) and Mary S. (Molly) Franklin; and his many cousins, aunts, and uncles. These relatives filled his childhood with stories and traditions—and now, as he rejoices in Heaven, he is reunited with them once again.

Bill also carried a proud Texas heritage as the 3rd great grandnephew of John Wheeler Bunton, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence for the Republic of Texas and commissioner for Mina (now Bastrop). A Desha-Wheeler-Bunton descendant, he cherished Bastrop, Texas and American history. Bill and Lillian later retired to his parents’ “Bull Run” property in Cedar Creek, Bastrop County, where they enjoyed some of their final years together.

Early Life of Lillian Ann (Tampke) Nogues

Lillian Ann Tampke was born on August 20, 1939, in Floresville, Texas, to Lothar Fritz Tampke and Helen (Spruce) Tampke. She and her parents were living in Poth, Texas, at the time of her birth.

A treasured family story tells how, at age two, Lillian wandered onto the Poth-to-San Antonio Highway with her tricycle. A truck driver stopped, picked her up, and reunited her with her frantic young mother—an early glimpse of her adventurous spirit that both terrified and delighted her family.

She grew up in Austin near the University of Texas on Sabine Street in the 1940s and 1950s, looking toward the Texas Capitol and climbing and playing under the giant live oak trees with her two younger sisters. She would climb a box elder to see the University Tower and the Capitol building, and the hills of West Austin. She would play in the sprinkler, play hide and go seek, catch lightning bugs, listen to records of Skaters Waltz, Peter and the Wolf, and Hansel and Gretel, and put on plays with her sisters in the garage. She also took singing and piano lessons.

She would often recall with delight the neon sign of the little boy that “slid down the bottle,” a whimsical landmark near the Driskill Hotel that became part of her Austin childhood memories.

From childhood, she found light and comfort in church choirs, a connection to Jesus and to music. That early joy shaped her lifelong devotion to sharing Christ through song and worship.

Marriage & Family

Bill and Lillian were introduced by friends, and Bill was immediately captivated by her beauty, passion, singing voice, sense of adventure, great humor, and her adoration of him. They were married in January 1959 at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Austin, TX by Associate Pastor Bruno Schmidt. Their marriage license was issued in Bastrop County by Clerk Tignal Jones—a fact that delighted Lillian all her life. In her later years, whenever they crossed the Old Iron Bridge in Bastrop, she would lovingly recall that detail with a giggle.

In their younger years, Bill and Lillian loved going to the beach, exploring Texas, and traveling through Colorado, the Carolinas, Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana. They especially enjoyed the Texas Hill Country and Davis Mountains as they grew older. They visited the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) stone cabins at Bastrop State Park, a favorite place they later shared with their daughters.

Their life together was one of passion, adventure, faith, and devotion. They were blessed with three daughters—Laura, the blonde (“Blondie”); Katherine, the brunette (“Brown Eyes”); and Susan, the redhead (“Red”). The family laughed about this often, cherishing their Dad’s playful nicknames.

They took their daughters to spend time with grandparents and family to experience their positive influences and unique heritage, as well as life on farms and city life in Austin. They also had them explore different types of food, camping, fishing, making bonfires at family gatherings, outdoors, and even sailing. And every Sunday, they attended a Methodist Church wherever they lived.

Bill and Lillian were overjoyed to become grandparents. They poured their hearts into welcoming their granddaughters, Alexandra (Ali) and Brenna Pool. Summers, holidays, and family gatherings were times when “Daddy Bill” and Lillian surrounded the girls with love, faith, and encouragement. Their granddaughters were especially entertained by activities around the farm in Cedar Creek and outings, which created memories that remain deeply treasured.

On her last birthday, Bill carefully signed his name on her card. When asked who signed it, Lillian, who by then was only occasionally speaking “yes” or “no,” clearly said, “Bill” a couple of times. After so long of limited words, it was a gift of remembrance that brought joy to her daughters and husband. Bill especially needed to hear his beloved wife say his name again after such a long silence. They remained affectionate and playful, showing their 66-year love story in countless sweet, unspoken ways.

Education, Career & Ministry of Reverend Franklin William “Bill” Nogues

Bill graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts and later studied at Perkins School of Theology (SMU). He worked for the U.S. Department of Labor until his retirement in 1987, when he answered God’s call to ministry in the United Methodist Church.

Bill’s story was one of salvation and surrendering to the Lord’s call when he was in his 40s. His going into the ministry was a passionate answer to the call often sung and spoken in Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

After Lillian had started work in real estate, Bill wrote her a tender letter that she kept tucked inside her Bible. In it, he described her patient, loving, steady, Christ-like heart toward him—and how he wanted to be more like that. It became a cherished part of his own salvation story, a testimony to how her faith and example helped shape his walk with the Lord.

His ministry began in the 1980s through Methodist lay service, serving as a Gideon and ministering in jails in Portland and Corpus Christi, TX. Ordained at age 50, he pastored in Zapata, Kempner, and Hondo, TX, retiring from First United Methodist Church in Hondo in 2002.

Bill loved that he was on Walk #1 with the Walk to Emmaus, a Christian spiritual retreat held in the 1980s at Mount Wesley in Kerrville, TX. Lillian later joined him on the Woman’s Walk #1 in this ministry, and through their loving sponsorship of “Pilgrims” over the years, as well as reunions of fellowship and praise.

After retirement in 2002, Bill and Lillian made their home in Cedar Creek, where they attended Cedar Creek United Methodist Church. Bill loved his time there—serving as a fill-in pastor, leading Bible studies, offering communion, and enjoying the warmth of fellowship. He delighted in the friendships he made, the church family he grew with, and, of course, the wonderful food shared at gatherings. His ministry and joy in community never ceased.

Bill was a lifelong learner, an avid reader, and knew the answers to the toughest Jeopardy! questions. He was also a linguist, and his daughters laughingly recall both past and present word choice and pronunciation corrections. In that way, he is still with them. His humor was quick, pun-filled, and playful. He loved making Lillian laugh—his greatest mission—and often sketched cartoons featuring himself with his trademark eyeglasses. Bill would also make everyone laugh with his variety of animated expressions, which became part of his lighthearted charm.

He was a licensed HAM radio operator (call sign W5GVE) and assisted with emergency communications and during hurricanes and was always excited when his signal reached across the globe. He loved the relationships created with other HAMs over the years and the friendships shared over the radio waves. He knew his friend Pete Morey since the 1950s and Keith Waddle since the 1980s, and he often spoke of both with fondness for the deep friendships they shared. We can hear him saying “73. 73. W5GVE, Clear…..”

In his younger years, Bill thrived in pursuits that challenged both his mind and spirit. He was active in Toastmasters, honing his skills as a speaker and leader, and at the same time enjoyed the thrill of the open road—most memorably racing his Jaguar E-type roadster in the early 1970s. Both reflected his love of communication, energy, and a touch of adventure.

He also passed on practical knowledge, teaching his daughters that they could do anything a boy could do and instilling in them confidence through problem-solving and hands-on learning.

Bill loved Jesus, Lillian, his daughters, his granddaughters, and his family. He loved making Lillian laugh, church family fellowship, the Walk to Emmaus, reading, learning, leading, listening to his girls sing around Lillian’s accompaniment at the piano, and the sound of a good pipe organ. He loved nature, critters, fishing, sleeping, Bible study, HAM radio, tractor time, food, Whataburger, shrimp, gardening, Corvairs, beekeeping, TV, astronomy, being on time, and being productive and efficient.

At age 84, he bravely underwent quintuple bypass surgery—not out of fear of death, but to “choose life” so he could remain with Lillian through her dementia journey. His devotion to her, especially in her hardest years, was unwavering. He was an inspiration to all that witnessed his sweetness, patience and love the last few years with Lillian. Though Bill will be greatly missed, and we will see him again, he is forever with Jesus his love Lillian.

A Life of Faith, Work, and Legacy of Lillian Ann Nogues

Her story is one of salvation in her early childhood and more understanding after two of her daughters were born in the late 1960’s. In her own words:

“A prayer group introduced me to the Holy Spirit, and helped me recognize His work throughout my life... past, present & future. Although there have been peaks and valleys in my relationship with God since then, I now can experience ‘the joy of the Lord’ & be thankful, realizing that I can never be worthy on my own to stand before Him, but Jesus is worthy and has covered my sinfulness with His blood. The key is turning from those things that separate me from Him and staying in close fellowship with Him.”

And she did walk that walk—an inspiration to all who knew her. She was forgiving, quiet in suffering, deeply loving toward family, and devoted to friends. She shared her talents generously, studied the Bible faithfully, and served as pianist or organist in the churches Bill pastored. In retirement, she joyfully played piano at Cedar Creek United Methodist Church until about 2020.

Her love for children and her own choir experience inspired her to direct children’s choirs beginning in the 1970s at Woodway United Methodist Church. Laura and Katherine sang under her direction there, and later Susan in Portland, TX. She continued this ministry wherever Bill pastored, giving children a chance to experience Christ’s love through music. Many youth—now adults—shared how she influenced them lovingly. She also brought the “Hello, Me” seminar to churches in Hondo and Cedar Creek, helping young girls learn how to be ladies and, most importantly, to know they were unconditionally loved by Christ.

Her influence reached most deeply into her daughters’ lives. She not only encouraged their music but accompanied them personally, playing piano for their clarinet and voices, and teaching them to love song as she did.

She was also a successful, prize-winning artist, best known for her bluebonnet landscapes but equally skilled in seascapes, wildlife, and more. A talented photographer, she often painted from her own photos, working in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pastels. Her artwork continues to live on in the homes of friends, family, and community members who treasure her pieces. The family is thankful for those who encouraged her artistry, invited her to share her gifts, and welcomed her music into their churches and homes.

Lillian entered the workforce in the late-1970s with one goal: to see her three girls complete a degree. She became a Real Estate Agent with Thompkins-Young Real Estate in Portland, TX, and by 1984 was Broker Manager of the Portland office. Admired by peers and agents alike, she served as President of the San Patricio Board of Realtors in 1985 and was honored as Realtor of the Year. She remained a licensed Texas Broker until 2005.

Lillian believed her girls could do anything. She passed on her talents, gave them tools, and encouraged them always. Her influence is visible in the lives and callings of her daughters and granddaughters.

Laura inherited Lillian’s artistry in another form. During her university years she discovered jewelry design, a gift she transformed into a lifelong career. For decades she has owned and operated a jewelry store in Missouri, known for her mastery and creative designs. That legacy continues as her daughter Brenna now works alongside her, carrying forward her mother and grandmother’s creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Brenna is also so wise and is devoted to family. Granddaughter Ali reflects her grandmother’s heart for service in her work with Ozarks Food Harvest in Missouri. As a special events coordinator, she brings compassion, empathy, and organizational gifts to feed the hungry, a vocation that echoes Lillian’s lifelong desire to see others cared for and loved.

Her daughter Katherine carried forward Lillian’s deep love for music. With her beautiful voice, she traveled the world after university graduation with the Celebrant Singers, sharing Christ’s message in places that might not have otherwise heard it. Today, Katherine continues to grow in her music, teaching herself the dulcimer, while her compassionate heart for caregiving became a testimony of service as she lovingly cared for both Bill and Lillian in their final three years.

After her university graduation, Lillian encouraged Susan with a simple but life-changing question: “Why don’t you get your real estate license?” Later, she challenged her again: “Why don’t you get your Broker’s license and start your own company?” Susan said “ok” both times and today operates her own Bastrop brokerage, carrying on the professional path her mother first inspired. She cherishes her mom’s sage advice and influence in real estate discussions to this day, and even more, her lasting example of Faith and Love.

Lillian also had a very special relationship with her younger sisters, Mary Ellen and Sally. Their annual “Sister’s Conference” gatherings at the family farm in Floresville—or later in Bastrop—were filled with laughter, games, kite-flying, reminiscing, and meals together. They playfully called each other “favorite sister,” a tradition that became a lifelong inside joke and truth for the love they shared for each other.

She and Bill treasured extended family visits, especially with Bill’s niece Collier Desha Nogues and her family. They were always overjoyed when their youngest grand-niece, Opal Clapp Nogues, came to visit—her smart, spirited nature brought them immeasurable joy.

In retirement, she enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles and tending the Christmas trees she planted and nurtured. She also enjoyed restoring Toni dolls, which she dressed in clothing she sewed herself. She often spent mornings by a fire in her chiminea, regardless of the weather. Her love of bonfires and barbecues—part of her half-German heritage—was happily passed down to her daughters.

She delighted in the beauty of the seasons and family traditions. Holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving brought her special joy, as did birthdays, which she made extra meaningful for her family with thoughtful notes and celebrations. She was the family’s “weather girl,” and she loved colors, fireworks, antiquing, and her collection of clowns.

Playful and adventurous, she loved trains, hot air balloons, barbecue, Mexican food, Whataburgers, pie, shrimp, sushi, cheesecake, ice cream, jalapeños, their chickens and anything sparkly. She adored children, loved seeing people thrive, and took time to make others feel valued with her warm hugs, big smile, and caring hand painted notes that often said “thinking of you.”

She was kind, humble, funny, and strong-willed, achieving what she set out to do while leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, music, art, and inspiration. Lillian’s lasting legacy is a life lived in Christ, a love for family, and a joy in music, art, and service that will echo for generations. Lillian will be deeply missed.

Preceded in Death and Survived By

Franklin William (Bill) Nogues is preceded in death by his parents, DeWitt Collier (Doc) and Ruby Jane Nogues; his brother, James Carter (Jim) Nogues; and most recently, his wife of 66 years, Lillian Ann (Tampke) Nogues, who passed away just 32 hours after him on September 5, 2025.

Lillian Ann (Tampke) Nogues is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Franklin William Nogues, who passed away just 32 hours before her on September 4, 2025; Her parents, Helen Spruce Tampke and Lothar Fritz Tampke; and Bother-in-law David LaBauve.

They are both survived by their daughters: Laura E. Pool (Jon W. Pool), Newburg, MO; Katherine E. Nogues, Salem, AR; and Susan M. Nogues, Bastrop, TX.

Granddaughters: Alexandra (Ali) N. Pool, Springfield, MO; and Brenna M. Pool, Dixon, MO

Niece (Bill): Collier Desha Nogues (Jeffrey Clapp) and grand-niece Opal Clapp Nogues, Hong Kong.

Sisters (Lillian): Mary Ellen LaBauve, San Antonio, TX; and Sally Gaertner (Yogi).

Nieces and nephews (Lillian): Lisa Hethcock (Donn), Colleyville, TX; Julie Urbanski (Gary Speckels), San Antonio, TX; Terri Burleson (Travis), Salado, TX; Angela Lierman (Daryl), Filer, ID; Ben Gaertner (Kara), Sumter, SC. Grand-nieces/nephews: Vanessa Wayne (James), Austin, TX; Jacob Hethcock, San Diego, CA; Deborah Hethcock, Austin, TX; Zane Urbanski, Seattle, WA; Zach Urbanski, San Antonio, TX; Lydia, Fabian, and Travis Burleson, Salado, TX; Riley, Bodie, and Kaylee Lierman, Filer, ID; Kaytie and Katherine Gaertner, Nathan and Ethan Gaertner, Sumter, SC.

Celebration of Life

A combined Memorial Service celebrating the lives of Bill and Lillian will be held Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Cedar Creek United Methodist Church, 5630 FM 535, Cedar Creek, TX.

The family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care of Journey of Life Hospice staff and the dedicated caregivers from Comfort Keepers, for the kindness of the Sunshine Respite program at the Bastrop United Methodist Church, and for the other caregivers, many friends, churches, and community members who supported Bill and Lillian through their full lives. The outpouring of prayers and love has been a great blessing.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cedar Creek United Methodist Church or to the Salvation Army, as both Bill and Lillian requested.

Their story is one of Salvation, Faith, Love, Music, Service, Surrender, and Devotion for 66 years. Now, it is one of Resurrection into the everlasting Life with Christ.