Billie Jo Leggett Wagner

Billie Jo Leggett Wagner, 92, passed away on Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, at her home in Cuero surrounded by all of her children. She was born on September 10, 1932, in Goliad to Otis L. and Mary Jane (Shaw) Leggett.
After graduating from Cuero High School, she married Walter Robert (Bob) Wagner who was the love of her life. Following a brief honeymoon in Corpus Christi, they moved to Colorado where Bob served in the Air Force. Upon returning from the service, they moved to Lindenau, Texas and started a dairy farm. After battling several years of severe drought, they sold the cows and moved to Austin where Billie took care of their first-born son, Reed, and Bob went to The University of Texas to obtain a business degree. On the day of Bob’s graduation his father passed away, and he and Billie returned to Cuero to help his mother run the family hardware store. Wagner’s Hardware is now 80 years old and still in operation under the ownership of Reed & Beverly Wagner.
Billie was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt to many nieces and nephews. She loved large family gatherings where there was much laughter, storytelling, and time spent with her many family members.
Her warm smile and genuine care for all made everyone feel welcome.
She was the light and the life of her family. Always positive and encouraging everyone to be kind and caring to others. She was also not afraid to let you know if she disagreed with you or felt you needed another point of view.
Billie loved sharing her faith and was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church for many years. She served on the council on ministries, the board of directors of the church and was a member of the LIFT ladies church group. She also sang in the church choir, taught Sunday school and started Kid’s Club where she shuttled children to the Church and provided a nurturing after-school venue for them. She took care of children who needed help with homework, a snack and some play time with friends. She consistently shared her love, time and talent with those less fortunate.
Billie also loved to read history books, and novels. She had a beautiful yard and loved to work in her flower gardens and spend time outside.
In later years, she and Bob loved to travel together, and with friends. She was particularly fond of Big Bend and the wide-open spaces. She also loved Hawaii and the charm of the islands. Despite some exotic travel, she most treasured spending time with Bob and her family at their beach house in Port O’Connor. She loved beachcombing, fishing and spending the day on Sunday Beach. Her other favorite place was their farm in Lindenau. The wildflowers were plentiful, and she loved to watch the cows and calves that wandered through the pasture. Mostly she loved all that God provided for her and found beauty in each new day and in his creation. We were blessed to have her, blessed to know her, and blessed to have her opinion. Sometimes when we asked for it, and sometimes when she felt we needed it.
Billie was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Walter Robert Wagner, her sisters, Dorothy Fay Leggett Kirkwood, Blanche Shaw Leggett Goldsum, Grace Lufburough Leggett Gips, Lorna Leggett Reese, Lois Evelyn Leggett Fischer, and brothers, William Raymond Leggett, Ralph Douglas Leggett.
She is survived by her sons, Robert Reed Wagner and wife Beverly of Cuero and Walter Richard Wagner and wife Angelia of Boerne; daughter, Sandy Wagner McCampbell and husband Ward of Corpus Christi; Grandchildren, Sara Courtney McCampbell Smith, and her husband Nowery-John (Boo) of Corpus Christi, Elizabeth Jane McCampbell of Corpus Christi, Margaret Katherine McCampbell of Corpus Christi, Krista Faye Wagner Colyer, and her husband Aaron Thomas of Wimberly, Robert Clayton Wagner and his wife Jenny Lane of North Carolina, Abigail Jewel Wagner of New York City, Analiese Elaine Wagner of Austin and great-grandchildren, Sarah Grace, Rebekah Faye and Zadok Aaron Colyer, Nowery John Smith IV “Cuatro” and Walter Ward Smith.
Pallbearers are Clayton Wagner, Nowery-John Smith, Aubrey Feril, Otis Gips, Dee Leggett and Doug Leggett.
Honorary Pallbearers include Chuck Fischer, Mark Fischer, Dan Fischer and Mark Mabrey.
We especially want to thank her wonderful caregivers with whom she became dear friends, Sylvia Castaneda, Oralia Maldonado, Nancy Herrera, Geralyn Trevino, Rose Castaneda and Janie Baron. In addition, we would like to thank the nurses at Hospice of South Texas for their wonderful care of Billie in her final days.
Visitation will be held Saturday, August 9, 2025, 1:00 PM at Freund Funeral Home followed by Funeral Services at 2:00PM. A time of food and fellowship will immediately follow the funeral service at Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum, 302 North Esplanade in Cuero. A private family burial will be held at a later time.
Memorials may be made to the Cuero Community Foundation c/o David Kleinecke, Cuero National Bank P.O. Box 889 Cuero, TX 77954, or the charity of your choice.
You may sign the guestbook or send condolences at www.freundfuneralhome.com.
Freund Funeral Home, 361.275.2343.