Ellen Lourene Pigg

Ellen Lourene Pigg, 85, of Tyler, Texas passed away peacefully on July 8, 2024. Lourene was born on August 1, 1938, to Harold and Christine Gorman in Rankin, Texas and was the oldest of four children. Lourene and her family grew up picking cotton in Ellis County. She was an all-star athlete in high school and was the 1956 valedictorian of her graduating class. Lourene was incredibly well-educated and received not one, but two master’s degrees. She met her husband, Harold, while commuting in a carpool to work in downtown Dallas. They were married on August 25, 1961. Lourene and Harold welcomed their first child, Michelle, in October of 1964 and then a second child, Alan, in April of 1969. She started her career as a business teacher at Justin F. Kimball High School in Dallas and then transitioned to DeSoto ISD where she spent 41 years dedicating her life to teaching and counseling. After “retiring” she continued to work with her church, Colonial Hills Baptist Church, as the librarian and sold Avon on the side. Lourene and Harold moved from DeSoto to Tyler in 2010 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They immediately became active in the community and at their home church of Southside Baptist Church. Lourene was known for being a “Queen Bee,” whether that was at her retirement community of Meadow Lake, among her friend group, or at church. Her love for reading was evident in the libraries she established and continued to run at her churches and at Meadow Lake Senior Living Community. She hosted summer reading clubs for children in the church libraries, hoping to instill in them the same love she had for books. Lourene was known for her generous heart, loving smile, and her cooking. Whether it was praline bacon, chocolate pie, angel biscuits, elegant chicken, ginger crackles, Italian Creme cake, deviled eggs, or spiced tea at Christmas, she knew how to cook, and everyone loved her food and benefited from it. Lourene did not know when to “stop, “rest” or how to say “no.” She was incredibly active at Meadow Lake, in her church, selling Avon, hosting parties, running a prayer ministry, and spending time with her family. She was very supportive of everything her children or grandchildren were doing, whether that was attending their plays, baseball games, or financially supporting the ministries they were passionate about. Lourene adored all of her grandchildren and spoke about them to whomever would listen. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Christine Gorman, her husband of 49 years, Harold Wayne Pigg, and her brother, Jesse “Sonny” Gorman. Lourene is survived by her daughter, Michelle (Bruce), son, Alan (Melanie), and five grandchildren, Elissa, Bret, Gregory, Madeline, and Austin. She is also survived by her sister, Beverly Brown, and brother, Randall Gorman, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler, Texas. A Celebration of Life Service with Dr. Mark Price officiating will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you would donate to Hospice of East Texas or Christian Homes & Family Services.

Ellen Lourene Pigg

August 1, 1938 - July 8, 2024