Wayland Corgill

Wayland Corgill, age 83 of Gatesville, passed away on Sunday, November 21, 2021.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at First United Methodist Church of Gatesville, with Rev. Stephen Schmidt officiating.  Interment will follow at Restland Cemetery.  Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 30^th at Scott’s Funeral Home.

Eric Wayland Corgill, was born on April 18, 1938 in Childress, Texas, C.V. Route.  He began work as a lineman for Community Public Service Company in 1956.  He graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1965, with a degree in electrical engineering.  In 1975, he married Carole Gordon and they moved to Austin, where he was employed with Austin Meter, Inc.  While there, the company manufactured equipment for Saudi Arabia and he wanted to work there.  At that time, Saudi Arabia was a rather “young” country.  Wayland loved the thought of an adventure and in 1980, he and his wife moved to Southern California, where he went to work at Ralph M. Parsons Corporation in Pasadena. He yearned to move to Saudi Arabia, where the company had many jobs.  His wish materialized and in 1982, he and Carole moved to Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. He later became manager of the engineering department.  He lived and worked there, not consecutively, for 18 years and created a popular Texas-Style Chili Cook-off.   While in Saudi Arabia, he and Carole traveled all over the world.  Traveling was in his genes. However, he didn’t always travel by air.  During many weekends, he and his friends camped in the desert and it was known by the Saudis, that he knew the backroads better than the native Saudis.  One of his favorite pastimes was roasting and peeling fresh green chilies purchased in New Mexico.  In fact, he and his wife made an annual trip to New Mexico in their RV, in order to bring back the fresh chilies.

He retired in 2004, but because of his knowledge of the job, the Saudis called him back numerous times.  His last stint in Saudi Arabia was in 2014.  In his retirement, writing became his favorite pastime. He put to good use his ability to tell a story, by writing and publishing two books: Strippers, Hoers & Heroes, and The Rifleman of the AFL, A Memoir by Cotton Davidson.  He’s also written three books about Saudi Arabia. 

Wayland was a member of the First United Methodist Church for ten years. He served his community as a loyal member of the Gatesville Lions Club for nine years, where he was Past President, member of the Board of Directors and Assistant Tail-Twister. He also was a steadfast supporter of the Boys & Girls Club and Gatesville Care Center.

Wayland loved his family and friends and was always wanting to do something for them; never thinking of himself first.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruben and Lillian Martin Corgill; and a daughter, Kathryn (Kathy) Jane Williams in 2013.

Wayland is survived by his wife of 46 years, Carole Corgill; three children, Jimmy Weldon Corgill of Cedar Park, Thomas (Tommy) Gene Corgill of Gatesville and Michelle Aldridge of Georgetown; brother, W. D. (Wortham) Corgill of Tomball; two grandchildren: Kristen Black, of Liberty Hill, Meghan Wardle of Georgetown, and two great-grandsons, as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family has designated that memorials be made to the Gatesville Lions Club, P.O. Box 208, Gatesville, TX 76528; Boys & Girls Club of Gatesville, 2533 E. Main Street, Gatesville, TX 76528; First United Methodist Church, 2600 E. Main Street, Gatesville, TX 76528; or Gatesville Care Center, 105 N. 7^th Street, Gatesville, TX 76528.