In Memoriam

Elizabeth G. Biggers, who received two degrees from SFA, passed away March 10. Biggers graduated from SFA in 1947 with a degree in general business. She earned her master’s degree in elementary education in 1952. Biggers worked as a secretary, teacher and librarian at various schools, but most of her career was spent at SFA, retiring in 1991 after serving 25 years as a librarian.

Suzanne J. Carpenter, who passed away March 17, graduated from SFA with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences specializing in law enforcement in 1989. Before her SFA enrollment, she was one of the first six females in her class to graduate in 1976 from the Dallas Police Academy as a trooper, following in her father’s footsteps, who was a Texas Ranger. Carpenter was employed at SFA, working for the University Police Department until her retirement in 2005.

After receiving a scholarship to play football for the Lumberjacks, George A. DeCoux Jr. enrolled at SFA, where he was a letterman in 1949 and 1950. In 1951, DeCoux, along with several of his teammates, left the university and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to serve in the Korean War. DeCoux served at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois until 1955. While at Chanute, he led his base swim team to the Air Force-wide championship and was chosen to coach the Air Force team to the interservice championship.

DeCoux returned to SFA in 1955 and received his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1957 and master’s degree in 1958. Upon graduation, he returned to Chanute as a civilian director of sports and recreation. DeCoux was a two-time recipient of the Air Force Meritorious Recreation Award as USAF outstanding director. A leader in the professional recreation movement in Mississippi, he was one of the founding fathers of the Mississippi Parks and Recreation Association in the mid-1960s.

He retired from USAF civil service in 1990 at Keesler Air Force Base and was hired as director of leisure services for the City of Gulfport, Mississippi. DeCoux was a state and nationally recognized figure in the park recreation and leisure services profession. DeCoux passed away March 18.

Dexter L. Lovett of Nacogdoches passed away May 23. Lovett attended SFA before joining the Army. After a three-year enlistment, he returned to the university to finish his studies and completed a bachelor’s degree in math in 1970, a master’s degree in science education in 1984 and a superintendent certification in 2001.

While in the Army, Lovett graduated from officer’s candidate school at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana for one year before serving in Vietnam from 1967 through 1968, for which he earned a Bronze Star.

Lovett was an avid fisherman and a member of the Nacogdoches Men’s Bass Club and Guys and Gals Bass Club for many years. In the early 1970s, he owned and operated Shirley Creek Marina before forming Lovett Construction.

Dr. Elizabeth D. Malpass, SFA professor of history, passed away March 11.

Education was the driving force in Malpass’ life. After receiving her doctoral degree in history in 1969, she came to SFA to teach. Her specialties included Viking history and British diplomatic history between the world wars.

During her multiple terms on the Faculty Senate, she played an active role in enriching the life of SFA. For example, she helped bring one of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta to SFA in 1984 and helped arrange former President Jimmy Carter’s visit to the campus in 1989.

A mainstay in the history department. Malpass held her students, her colleagues and herself to the highest academic, ethical and professional standards.

Virginia F. Mathews, a 1954 SFA graduate and associate professor emeritus of kinesiology and health science, passed away April 12.

After her graduation from high school in New Mexico, Mathews learned to weld in a New Deal program in Seattle, Washington. She worked as a welder in the Seattle shipyard and was proud to have served her country as a “Rosie the Riveter” during World War II.

She later moved to Orange and continued to work in a shipyard and as a secretary to help pay for her college education at East Texas State Teachers College. Mathews was recruited to SFA to serve as a graduate assistant in the physical education department in 1952. She graduated in 1954 and taught at SFA as an instructor, assistant professor and associate professor for the next 31 years.

Jesse E. Pettey Jr., who graduated from SFA in 1948 and 1955 with degrees in music, passed away May 25.

Pettey served as a captain in the Army Air Corps during World War II flying B-24 bombers. He flew 35 missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, four air medals and a French citation for participating in the invasion of Southern France. After the war, he returned to the states and served as a high school band director. He later entered the insurance profession, where he became a regional vice president for Prudential Insurance.

Charles L. Stokes, who passed away Jan. 27, was raised in Garrison. After his high school graduation, he enrolled at SFA and received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1952.

Stokes then joined the U.S. Army and served his country during the Korean War. During this time, he received several citations, including the National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. He returned to the states and worked for Gibson’s retail store. He later enjoyed farming and raising cattle.

Maebelle Hughes Yarbrough, a 1957 and 1965 SFA graduate and scholarship donor, passed away June 23.

Yarbrough graduated from Timpson High School in 1950 and later enrolled at SFA, where she was a member of the Lumberjack Marching Band and worked for the band director. Yarbrough taught elementary school in Timpson before being hired to teach at Garrison High School. She enjoyed teaching typing, shorthand and bookkeeping.

Yarbrough became the first female principal of Garrison High School, where she served for more than six years. After her husband’s death, she served as administrator of Garrison Nursing Home, which the Yarbrough family owned. Yarbrough also took over her husband’s ranching activities, certifying the herd with the Santa Gertrudis Association.