Courtesy Hawkins Funeral Home
Coke Loyd “C.L.” Gage, Jr. was born in Decatur, Texas on February 7, 1947, and on September 23, 2025—at the age of exactly 78 years, 7 months, and 16 days—he received his wings. True to form, he probably started telling his first story before they even finished checking him in at Heaven’s gate.
C.L. was the son of Coke Loyd Gage, Sr. and Angie Marie Drygould. He was united in marriage on October 1, 1979, to Patricia “Patti” Lynn Mason in Fort Worth, Texas. For the next 47 years, Patti was his partner, his confidante, travel companion and the love of his life.
C.L. was larger than life, the kind of man you couldn’t help but notice when he walked into a room—not just because of his booming laugh or tall cowboy frame, but because of that trademark ear-to-ear grin that could outshine the Texas sun. He lived every single day to the fullest, and if you ever sat down with him, chances are you left with a story (or three) you’d never forget.
Over his 78 years, C.L. wore many hats—literally and figuratively. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1970. After his service, he built his career as a landman and later as an oil & gas operator, founding Lone Star Land and Cattle Company. But ask him his favorite pursuit, and you’d get two answers: pigeons and horses. A lifelong pigeon racer, C.L. stood in leadership positions for the American Racing Pigeon Union and never missed an opportunity to tell a tale about his birds. C.L. stood in many leadership positions for American Racing Pigeon Union. From his biography from 2023 he says this about his introduction to pigeon racing: “I grew up around pigeons as boy on our farm with my family, his grandad started sending home “rollers” from Europe in WW2 from England and France. After I got out of the Navy, and started working in the oil fields I met a man named Red Herzer, he had crates in the back of his truck most of the time. That started a 20-year friendship that got me started in racing homers, sions, stassarts and bastins. I think it was about 1973.” C.L’s own Lonestar Loft hosted a one loft race the “Texas Shootout” for 16 years. To quote a post from the Texas Center of Racing Pigeon Center to reference his passing: “C.L.’s passion for the sport of racing pigeons was unmatched. His knowledge, stories, and wisdom guided countless fanciers through the years, and his dedication helped shape the Texas Center into what it is today. He gave freely of his time, shared his experience generously, and always encouraged others to strive for their best.” He’s obviously made lots of friends with his like- minded pigeon folks all his life. C.L. grew up around Quarter horses and recently in the last 10 years he got back into Horseracing, keeping broodmares, stallions, and young hopefuls in training. They started with about 20 brood mares and stallions and keep around ten 2-year olds in training. In 2019, his horses qualified in both the All-American Futurity and the All-American Derby—an achievement he credited to Reed Racing Stables, though anyone who knew him knew his grit and determination had plenty to do with it too.
If you’re here, you know he dabbled in a little of everything over the years, which includes honky-tonk owner, goat breeder, a cattleman and an entrepreneur in business and real estate. He was an avid fisherman going to Brazil for Peacock Bass for the past 21 years(and the competition was fierce between he and Patti, but she pretty much won most of the time), a hunter and had one of the largest Deer Hunting Collection in 1983, and above all, a man who found joy in the work of his hands and the wide-open spaces of Texas. He would talk ranching one minute and racing pigeons the next, and he loved to tell you a story about all of it!
He was also deeply involved in civic life in Wise County, known for his philanthropy and his leadership in the Decatur community. In 1990, after the death of his mother Marie, C.L’s middle brother Louis Wayne moved in with Patti and C.L. He flourished under their roof and learned many things until his death in 2016 at ripe OLD AGE of 67 years old.
In 1978 he met Patti Mason at the Honky-tonk he owned briefly and a year later October 1 st 1979 they began a life of 47 years! Patti! Every one of us heard that boom – PATTI!! She has been there for and with him every minute of every day since the day they said” I do”! Reading from one of the Biographies he wrote in 2023 about his life, he says this about PATTI: “Now we’ll get down to the gal that holds it all together, my wife Patti. She grew up in Fort Worth. We met in Honkytonk, I owned for a short time and married and have been married for 45 years. She’s a whiz, never tires. Took in all grandkids activities and devoted herself to the family. She is a cosmetologist, big name for beautician. She’s had her own shop for 31 years. She keeps up with all the horses and pigeons. We have quarter horses. I grew up around them and got back in five years ago. So we spend a lot of time at the track. She likes to gamble also. Patti is the bookkeeper, keeping up with the horse registry details and knows them all by my name. I am 76 years old and I will say it’s been a ride, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
C.L. leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Patti, who was the anchor to his sails, his son Will Gage and wife Keeley, his daughter Traci Gage Peacock, and five grandchildren who adored their “Big Dad”—Nate Gage and wife Lindsey, Luke Gage and wife Maddie and their son River, Carsyn Bailey, Marley Gage Wadlington and husband Trey and their daughter Clara, and Paxton Peacock, brothers, George Gage of Mississippi and Stephen L. Gage of Dallas and sister, Marsha Gage of Decatur; nephew, Germery Rodden, and niece, Katherine Gage and numerous nieces, nephews cousins, extended family and a host of friends.
Gerre Joiner will officiate. Pallbearers include Kash Reed, Blaine Mason, Michael Mason, Andrew Gage, Chase Chapman, Chad Montgomery, Clay Montgomery, and Dalton Shaw. C.L’s Honorary Pallbearers being some his friends for over 40 years: Dan Singleton, Dan Harvey, Kenny Kelley, Keith Berry, Austin Bowles, Larry Short, Ralph Donaho, Randy Cross, Butch Shoop, John Coker, Tommy Edwards, Dalton Montgomery, Roland Gutiereiz
He was a heck of a guy—no better way to put it. His legacy is one of laughter, grit, generosity, and a reminder to live big, love deeply, and always have a good story ready. So, share a tale, flash a grin and “lookout for those muggers”—C.L. wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to Texas Ladies Auxiliary at P.O. Box 856 Decatur, TX 76234 and TLCA C/O Patti Gage P.O. Box 856 Decatur, TX 76234.
