In Memoriam

Dr. Francis E. “Ab” Abernethy passed away March 21. Abernethy was born Dec. 3, 1925, in Altus, Oklahoma, and grew up near Palestine, Texas. Abernethy’s family moved to Nacogdoååches, where he graduated high school in 1943. Abernethy joined the Navy two weeks later and served in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, Abernethy attended SFA and received his bachelor’s degree in English in 1949. He continued his education and received both his master’s and doctoral degrees in literature from Louisiana State University. In 1965, he began his career at SFA, where he taught for 32 years. Abernethy retired in 1997 as a member of the Texas Institute of Letters and SFA professor emeritus. Abernethy was a longtime member of the Texas Folklore Society, where he served as secretary-editor. Abernethy’s wife, Hazel Shelton Abernethy, preceded him in death.

Ina Pearl Riggs Brundrett, an educator, gardener and philanthropist from Tyler, passed away June 3. Brundrett held memberships in many garden clubs and related organizations. She served on SFA’s Pineywoods Native Plant Center’s board and was a major contributor in establishing the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building on SFA’s campus. She generously gave to educational and botanical endeavors throughout the state. Texas Parks and Wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation declared the backyard of her Tyler residence a wildlife habitat.

Shirley Wooten Crawford passed away March 8. Crawford was born Sept. 10, 1937, in Panola County. She was a proud SFA graduate, receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university in 1958 and 1970 and served on the SFA Alumni Association Board and the SFA Alumni Foundation Board of Governors. Crawford worked for Texas A&M University and retired as a district extension director. She was well known for her local civic participation, serving as executive director for the United Way of Rusk County and as a member of the Henderson Lion’s Club and Keep Henderson Beautiful committee. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Henderson and served as pianist for Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church.

James Galen “Jim” Dickson passed away March 18. He was born May 26, 1935, in Hugo, Oklahoma. Dickson moved to Texas in 1947, and he graduated from Honey Grove High School. He graduated from the University of North Texas and the University of Texas before serving in the Navy. After his military service, Dickson taught Texas government and constitutional law at SFA from 1965 until retiring as professor emeritus in May 2000. He is survived by his wife, Martha Barker Dickson.

Dr. June Irwin, former SFA professor of health and physical education, passed away April 5. Irwin was born Aug. 4, 1925, in Laneville, Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree from SFA in 1946 and her master’s degree from Texas Women’s University. In 1958, she received her doctoral degree from the University of Indiana in Bloomington. Irwin served on the SFA faculty from 1947 until 1985 and was a devoted supporter and fan of SFA athletics. Irwin was inducted into the SFA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.

Dr. David Jeffrey, former SFA associate vice president for graduate studies and research, passed away April 7. Jeffrey was born Sept. 28, 1940, and grew up in Oklahoma, served in the military and later received two degrees from Oklahoma State University. Jeffrey taught rehabilitation counseling at SFA and retired in 2007. He is survived by his wife, Jann Lowther Jeffrey.

Dr. Jerry N. Lackey, former SFA professor of psychology, passed away March 14. Lackey was born Nov. 30, 1939, in Overton, Texas. He graduated from Longview High School in 1958 and received his bachelor’s degree in 1963 and doctoral degree in educational psychology from the University of Texas in 1971. He joined SFA in 1967, where he remained until his retirement in 2005. In 2011, he was named professor emeritus of psychology. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Verna Barron.

Arthur “Buddy” Temple III, an Angelina County businessman and conservationist, passed away April 14. SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture is named in honor of the Temple family’s contributions to the study of forestry in East Texas. Temple was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, to Mary Denman and Arthur Temple Jr. on Feb. 26, 1942. He grew up in Lufkin, Texas, and attended the University of Texas before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1961, serving as a crew chief and helicopter co-pilot. Temple later served four terms as a Texas state representative. He played an active role in the management of his family business, Temple Industries and served on the Texas Railroad Commission, where he was named chair in 1985. He served on the Temple-Inland Board of Directors and as board chairman of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. He also served on the boards of First Bank & Trust East Texas and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. In 2014, Temple received the Texas Forest Country Partnership’s Silver Bucket award for his efforts in preserving the natural habitat of East Texas, including approximately 19,000 acres of hardwood forest and wetlands along the Neches River. His wife of 45 years, Ellen Clarke Temple, survives him.