Joe Cline

Joe H. Cline passed from this life June 2, 2016 at the age of 76.

Born in Huntsville, Texas, Joe spent his early childhood at Lost Prairie in Mexia, Texas. In 1946, he moved to LaMarque, where he completed elementary thru high school. Immediately after high school, Joe attended Lamar Technical College in Beaumont, where he realized his passion for telecommunications.

In 1961, Joe joined the United States Air Force. During his service time he was stationed in Turkey and Biloxi, Mississippi; with his last assignment at Bergstrom AFB in Austin. Joe left the service with an honorable discharged from the Air Force and decided to make Austin his permanent home. He went to work for Western Electric (later becoming AT&T), married the woman of his dreams, bought a little house, and started a family. His loyalty as a friend and an employee were second to only one thing, and that was his family. From the day he met his wife, the happiness, health and protection of his family was his reason to live.

He was not the first person you would recruit to plan a party, but if you needed someone to trust and depend on, he would never disappoint; Joe retired without a single sick day; He never missed a baseball, softball, or football game; dance recital or band concert. Monty and Tracey could always count on his arm waving the highest when it was their time to shine. If it is possible to graduate parenthood, Joe did it with honors! He was so very proud of his children and their accomplishments.

Joe was a creature of habit and his family always joked that he was never awake after 7PM. The one exception was the night he was awaiting the arrival of his beautiful granddaughter Jordan who he loved so very much.

Although he had many struggles in the last year, the final milestone he vowed to achieve was to celebrate 50 years of marriage to Linda and as always, he was a man of his word.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years & 4 months, Linda Cline; his son, Monty Cline and wife, Aimee; his daughter, Tracey Cline-McElroy and husband, Kevin; his brother and sister in-law, Jack and Carol Cline; his Grandchildren, Jordan Cline, Madison, Haylee, Cameran, and Tanner Key, Stephen and David McElroy; Niece, Kelley Reece, her daughter and grandson; several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Accepting him in to their loving arms are Joe's mother, Mildred Cline; brother, Jim Cline; and Mother in-law, Evelyn Roberts.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until noon, Monday, June 6 at Marrs-Jones Funeral Home, Smithville.

The family will receive friends from noon until 2 p.m., at La Cabana Mexican Restaurant following the visitation. The family welcomes friends to accompany them to Oak Hill Cemetery, Smithville for a final farewell with military honors and committal service by Rev. Dr. Karen Boehk, beginning at 2:30