Joe Cagle

Joe Cagle died on July 13, 2014 at his home in Bermuda Run.

Born in Shawnee, Okla., he was one of six children of the late Lillie Belle (Joyce) Melott Cagle and I.B. (Bill) Cagle. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Betty Collins, and a brother, Wendall Cagle.

He was proud of his Native American Pottawatomi heritage. His great-grandmother was one of the original five families establishing the Citizen Potawatomi Nation in Oklahoma.

Survivors: his wife of 55 years, Shirley J. Cagle; daughters, Jennifer Whyman (Dan) of St. Louis and Jill O’Dea (Kevin) of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren, Erica, Tim and Ben of St. Louis; sisters, Carol Kuenstler (Oscar) of Elephant Butte, N.M. and Linda Teal (Jim) of Rockport, Texas; brother, Keith Cagle (Sandi) of Rockport; and many nieces and nephews.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Central State University in Edmond, Okla. Mr. Cagle worked for 37 years in the chemical industry with Nalco Chemical Co., W.R. Grace and Betz-Dearborn. He was a lifetime member of the American Chemical Society. After moving to Charlotte, he fell in love with the state and its people. He chose to return to North Carolina when he retired in 1998. He looked forward to many days on the golf course at Bermuda Run with friends and neighbors. Discovering Sawtooth School of Visual Arts, he became involved in the art world in Winston-Salem. After exploring painting, he decided pottery was where he belonged. “Playing in the dirt” was his passion for years. He became a member of Associated Artists and a founding member of the Muddy River Art Association. He was a member of Clemmons Presbyterian Church. 

After rescuing a large white greyhound, he decided he needed an easier way to bath “Tony” so with friends Lee Reynolds, Sam Zaffino and Don House he designed and opened “Go Dog Wash” on Jonestown Road in 2004. After 7 years, he retired again to devote more time to his pottery. His home studio provided many hours for teaching relatives and friends how to make an original work of art. He had served as mentor to business associates and friends, active in each neighborhood in which he resided, participating in civic and philanthropic endeavors. He told each family member often how much he loved them and was proud of them.

His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at Hayworth-Miller, 108 E. Kinderton Way, Bermuda Run. The family will receive friends following the service. Burial will be later at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Memorials: Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, 27103; or Davie Community Foundation, PO Box 546, Mocksville.