Wayne A. “Cornbread” Lusk, 60, of Sour Lake passed away Monday morning, September 24, 2007 at his home in Sour Lake after a valiant fight with cancer. Wayne and his wife Jody lived in Sour Lake for the past thirty-two years. Wayne was born October 29, 1946, and spent his early school years in Beaumont before returning to Sour Lake where he graduated from Hardin Jefferson High School in 1965. After graduation, Wayne joined the United States Navy, where he served aboard the USS Camden and served two tours during the Vietnam War from 1966 until 1970. Shortly after returning home, Wayne went to work for Goodyear at their Beaumont chemical plant, where he worked for thirty-five years. During his tenure at Goodyear, Wayne was honored as one of the “ten people who made a world of difference” by the Beaumont Enterprise. He won the award for coming to the aid of a co-worker who was stricken by cancer. He started and coordinated an effort to raise funds for his stricken co-worker.
Wayne is preceded in death by his father, J.R. (R.L.) Lusk, Jr. and his step-sister, Sharon Eckelkamp.
Wayne is survived by his wife of thirty-four years, Jody Lusk of Sour Lake; son, Brian Baack and his wife Janyce of Sour Lake; daughter, Kimberly Lusk of Austin, Texas; mother, Ella Maudette Turkleson and husband Robert of Lumberton; brothers, James Lusk and wife Ruth of Laporte and Frank Lusk and his wife Elaine of Sour Lake; step-brother, Don Turkleson and his wife Debbie of Houston; step-sisters, Mary Ellen Rouen and her husband Mike of Houston and Peggy Turkleson of Alabama; two grandchildren, Kaylee and Tyler Baack of Sour Lake; and a host of nieces and nephews as well as many friends who will cherish his memory.
Funeral service will be 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at Broussard’s Chapel, 530 W. Monroe, Kountze followed by burial at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Sour Lake. A gathering of family and friends will be 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at the mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made in Wayne’s memory to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 297153, Houston, Texas 77297-0153.
