Nada Wagley Thogmartin died peacefully on July 23, 2025. She lived a long, meaningful life and spread kindness through her presence, her stories and most famously her baking. Her sour cream cookies and brownies were a signature comfort at every family gathering.
As a devoted mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother, Nada’s life was centered around family and friends. Her grandchildren remember how every visit meant gathering around the kitchen table for board games, cards and funny family stories.
Nada was born on Aug. 25, 1933, in Putnum, Texas, to Virgil R. Wagley and Amy Estelle Johnson Wagley. She grew up in Cisco and graduated from Cisco High School, where she was awarded a band scholarship to Hardin-Simmons University. She played the oboe and was a member of the University Cowgirl Band, the Symphonic University Band and participated in the Abilene Symphony Orchestra.
After she graduated from HSU in 1954, Nada began teaching elementary school in Lampasas, and met and married Billy Joe Thogmartin. They moved many times in the early years because of his job but settled in Carrollton, where she worked as a kindergarten teacher and then at Southern Methodist University in Dallas for 18 years.
After retirement in 1995, she and Billy moved back to Lampasas. He passed away in 1998.
Nada was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lampasas, where she served as an elder and was a member of the Presbyterian Women. She taught country line dancing and was a member of the Red Hat Club.
In her final four years, Nada made her home in Florida, where she enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels in her yard, reading, puzzles and dining with her new friends that she easily made. She also enjoyed visits from her grandsons, her son and her daughter-in-law, daily phone calls with her daughter, and she loved watching the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorns football games.
Nada was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Joe; her sister, Betty Sue Wagley; a cousin, Juan Moore; and a special friend, Gene Milner.
Nada is survived by two children, Dana Thogmartin Turner and Jon Thogmartin (Andrea); eight grandchildren, Rebecca Turner (Stephanie), Angela Marshall (Josh), Clark Wylie, Jacob Thogmartin (Deborah), Kaitlin Booth (Jacob), Brent Thogmartin, Eric Thogmartin and McCain Thogmartin; and 11 great-grandchildren, Christopher, Ellie, Leah, Mickenzie, Colton, Wyatt, Kaden, Kingston, Adelyn, Elyse and Rebecca.
Donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church in Lampasas.
