2000-10s

Conner Ryan Becker, BBA ’07, of Fort Worth died Sept. 30, 2019, at age 34. He was born Jan. 5, 1985, in Houston, Texas to Cyndi and Bruce Becker and was the proud older brother to Cameron Becker. His family moved to Fort Worth when he was four. He attended All Saints' Episcopal preschool program and in third grade continued at All Saints' Episcopal School until graduating high school in 2003. He played soccer and baseball. Conner also enjoyed scouting and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Baylor University in 2007 with a BBA in Marketing and a minor in Environmental Science. He was active in the Baylor University chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity serving as Pledge Trainer, Homecoming Float Chairman, and participated in All-University SING and many community service projects. After graduation, he loved working in the oil industry, first for XTO Energy, and later as an independent consultant. Conner also loved spending time with family and friends along with fishing, boating, hunting, hiking and backpacking. All of us will miss Conner's deep love of family and friends, his wonderful sense of humor, his adventurous spirit, his contagious smile and laugh, and the fact that he never met a stranger. Our hearts are broken but we find peace and comfort knowing that God's love is everlasting and has plans for our future. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Wanda and Hayden Hatcher; and his paternal grandparents, Barbara and George Becker. Survivors: Loving parents, Bruce and Cyndi Becker; his close brother, Cameron; many aunts, uncles and cousins; a host of friends; and his loyal dog, Hank. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Conner's honor to All Saints' Episcopal School or Baylor University.

Desmond Terraine Jenkins, BA ’07, JD ’12, of Trinidad, TX, entered into rest Wednesday Aug. 14, 2019 at 33 years of age. He was born to Ernest Jenkins and Vassandral Trimble July 5, 1986. He received his formal education at Trinidad ISD, where he was a stellar student and athlete. He continued his academic and athletic prowess at Baylor University where he received a Bachelor's in Business Administration from the Hankamer School of Business and a Juris Doctorate from Baylor Law School. Desmond also had the honor of serving as his Law School's Class President and was a member of Baylor Bear Football as a safety. After graduation, Desmond worked for several law firms, eventually settling in with Starr Schoenbrun & Comte PLLC in Tyler, Texas. He also accepted the Gospel call and preached his inaugural message Aug. 4, 2019 at Cedar Fork Baptist Church in Trinidad, Texas. His life will continue to preach to many for years to come. He was preceded in death by Melvin Harmon (brother). He leaves to honor his memory: his father, Ernest Jenkins; mother, Vassandral Trimble; girlfriend, Patrise Hornbuckle (her son Cameron); sisters, Kimberly Dawson and Jacqueline Carr (Rodney); brothers, Corey Jenkins (Arnessa), Jerell Williams (Velekia), Quincy Jenkins (Ashley), Ahmad Jenkins; a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 at the Christian Life Center in Gun Barrel City. In lieu of flowers, please send monetary gifts, nonperishable goods, and toiletries in Desmond's name to the charity, Love In Action, located in Athens, Texas at www.hendersoncountyhomeless.com.

Eric Kotchi Seka, MSEco ’08, of Manawa, WI, died Aug. 29, 2019. He was born on November 5, 1974, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, son of the late Pascal and Florine (Yapi) Seka. Eric graduated from Protestant High School in Abidjan in 1993. He continued his schooling at Ecole Superieur de Commerce et Marketing (Technical College) from 1993-1997 and earned a degree in Marketing Research. He worked for various companies, saving his money and wanting to further his education, he came to the United States in July 2001.  Eric graduated from Texas Weslyn in 2005 with a BA in Business Administration. He then received his Master’s Degree in Science and International Economics in 2008 from Baylor University. He met Jill Bonikowske from Manawa online in 2008; they married on June 11, 2010, in Missouri. He became an instant father to Kaden Bonikowske and their dog, Phineas; Jill and Eric had a daughter, Kensley, who was born in 2012. Eric worked for Resource One International, LLC in Little Chute from 2011-2019 as a production planner and recently started working at Midwest Specialty Products in April of 2019 until his cancer returned and was unable to work. He loved soccer and enjoyed coaching both Kaden and Kensley’s teams. Eric loved to write and even published a book, Love Never Fails in 2013.  He enjoyed playing the guitar and shared this talent with his church family. Eric was very family oriented and had a strong faith. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Manawa. He is survived by his wife Jill; children: Kensley Seka and Kaden Bonikowske; siblings: Guy Martial Kotchi Seka, Diane Gisele Kotchi Seka; Camille Herve Kotchi (Desire) Seka; Franchine Edith Kotchi (Guillaume) Champigny; mother-in-law: Ann Bonikowske; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Bryan (Debbie) Bonikowske, Boyd Bonikowske, Elmer (Mary) Bonikowske, Bart (Wendy) Bonikowske, Julie (Jesse) Hass, Greg (Mandy) Bonikowske and Joel (Jessie) Bonikowske. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, maternal grandfather, and paternal grandparents. The funeral service for Eric will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Manawa with Rev. Nathan Reichle officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery in Symco. A visitation for Eric will be held on Monday, September 2, 2019, from 2-5 p.m. at the Cline-Hanson-Dahlke Funeral Home in Manawa, and also on Tuesday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. The family would like to thank the staff at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center of Appleton and Froedtert Hospital for their care and concern of Eric and his family.

Francesca Nicole Norris, BA ’16, of North Richland Hills, TX died July 28, 2019.

Dane Rubin Goldstein, BSN ’17, died Oct. 31, 2019. He was and always will be a most extraordinary young man. He marched to the beat of his own drum and truly, in every respect, took the path least taken. He was compassionate, caring, curious, funny, quirky, wickedly witty, and overcame many huge obstacles in his short life. When he was curious about a subject, he would learn everything about it and become a leading expert in the field. Dane was beyond intelligent, yet he took to the underdog and the feeble and helped them get voice and visibility. Many of the numerous stunts Dane pulled in life hardly mattered to Dane at the time, but now Dane has left us all with many great memories and laughs. And a cat. All of Dane’s up and downs gave rise to his great confidence and achievements. He has a tattoo on his knee that is the scientific symbol for iron. “Irony” (Iron Knee) Dane knew only the few who shared his sense of humor could get the meaning. At 13, Dane was severely burned over 18% of his body and endured excruciating pain to heal. In spite of this, Dane completed his entire high school curriculum by his 15th birthday, after which he put himself through college by delivering pizzas and working for delivery companies. After graduating from Baylor School of Nursing, Dane became a burn unit R.N. in Virginia and just recently received the Daisy Award for extraordinary nurses. The ways Dane dealt with challenges and his pursuit of his education and career path will always be an inspiration to his family and friends. He is survived by his mother, Carolyn Vandagriff, stepfather, Mark Vandagriff, Father, Bobby Goldstein, stepmother, Kim Goldstein, Brother Cooper Goldstein, Sister, Audrey Goldstein, half-sisters Lauren Nussbaum, Ruby Goldstein, Greta Goldstein, Maggie Goldstein, and stepbrother Zach Vandagriff, and stepsister, Erin Vandagriff; Grandmother, Paula Goldstein and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.Dane’s funeral will be held on Sunday November 10, 2019, at 1:00 PM at Sparkman Hillcrest, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225. Memorials may be made to the Parkland Hospital Burn Camp (www.IStandForParkland.org/BurnCamp) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Ty Allan Drury, JD ’18, age 28, went to be with his Lord and Savior, on Sunday, August 25, 2019 in Fort Worth. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, August 28th at Cowboy Church of Erath County with Brother Ed Dittfurth officiating. Burial will follow at 4:30 PM at Bangs Cemetery in Bangs. Visitation will be 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday at Stephenville Funeral Home. Ty was born on August 6, 1991 in Fort Worth to James and Sheri Hallquist Drury. Ty grew up in Stephenville, attending schools in Stephenville, graduating in the class of 2010 from Stephenville High School. He went on to Tarleton State receiving his bachelor’s degree in 2014, and attended Baylor Law School, graduating in 2018, and recently accepted a position with Simpson, Simpson & Penepacker Law Firm in Bridgeport. At Tarleton State, Ty was on the Meat Judging Team, and in 2014 received the Distinguished Graduate award from the Animal Industries department. At Baylor Law School, Ty served on 2 AAJ mock trial teams that went on to Nationals. Ty attended Timber Ridge Church and has lived in Stephenville his entire 28 years. On Memorial Day, May 27, 2019, Ty asked the love of his life, McKenna Skidmore, to become his wife, a partner in life. Ty is survived by his parents, James and Sheri Drury; brother, Zane Drury; fiancé, McKenna Skidmore; grandparents, C. R. and Ginny Hallquist of Lipan; and several cousins. The Drury family wishes to thank Jim and Gail Elliot, and the law firm of Coan and Elliott for all the support and guidance while Ty was working on his degree from Baylor Law School. The Drury family also wishes expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations to Baylor Law School in Waco.