Baylor University Mourns Passing of Three Emeriti Professors
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WACO, Texas (July 11, 2018) – Baylor University is mourning the recent deaths of three emeriti faculty members: Mary Alice Booras, M.A., associate professor emeritus of communication studies, who passed away July 4; Thomas Myers, Ph.D., professor emeritus of political science, who passed away on June 29; and Mary Elizabeth Tindle, M.S., associate professor emeritus of health, human performance and recreation, who passed away June 2.
A memorial service for Booras will be held at 1 p.m. today (Wednesday, July 11) at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd., in Waco. A celebration of Myer’s life was held on July 5 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home in Waco. A memorial service for Tindle is pending with Mulkey-Bowles-Montgomery Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust, in Denton.
Mary Alice Booras, associate professor emeritus of communication studies
Booras grew up in Alabama and graduated from Auburn University and the University of Alabama. While attending Auburn, Mary was a member of the Freshman Girls Honor Society, Sophomore Girls Honor Society and the first female student in the Lambda Epsilon Chi Pre-law Honor Fraternity. She also was a member of Pi Kappa Delta Forensic Fraternity.
Booras taught in the communications studies department at Baylor from 1956 to 1995, and served as assistant forensic director from 1956 to 1970. She was a member of several professional organizations. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Auburn and Seventh & James Baptist Church in Waco. She enjoyed reading, working with container plants on her patio, and after retirement, developed an interest in bird watching.
Booras is survived by a sister, Ruth Davis of Franklin, Tennessee; two nephews, Dr. Tom Davis of Nashville, Tennessee, and David Davis of New York, New York; two great-nephews and two great-nieces.
Memorials may be made to Fuzzy Friends Rescue, 6321 Airport Road, Waco, Texas 76708 or the charity of choice.
Thomas Myers, professor emeritus of political science
Myers was born in Dallas and graduated from Baylor with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Kentucky. He taught at Temple University for three years and spent the next 42 years teaching at Baylor.
Myers loved his family and attended countless basketball games, recitals and everything else his children and grandchildren participated in. He had a green thumb and grew everything from garden vegetables to orchids. He was an avid motorcyclist.
Myers is survived by his wife of 57 years, Alice Myers; sons Mark Myers and wife Shelley, Andy Myers and wife Beverly; daughter Michelle Jolliff and husband Rob; sisters, Judy Heath and husband Dwayne, Sherry Myers; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and five nieces and nephews.
Memorials can be made to Baylor Scott & White Hospice, 3000 Herring Ave., Waco, TX 76708, or to the charity of your choice.
Mary Elizabeth Tindle, M.S., associate professor emeritus of health, human performance and recreation
Tindle was born in Oceola in Hill County and grew up on family farms outside the Dallas area. She had one sister, the late Joann Tindle Guest.
Tindle attended Baylor, receiving her B.S. in 1950 and M.S. in 1954. She joined the Baylor faculty in 1955 and retired 42 years later as associate professor emeritus of health, human performance and recreation in 1997. She was a long-time advocate and supporter of women’s athletics at Baylor and a special fan of the Lady Bears basketball team, attending their games until two years ago.
Tindle was an avid traveler in the U.S. and Europe; loved driving on country roads, seeing the birds and flowers and the farms; enjoyed all forms of outdoor life – fishing, hunting, boating, camping – and shared them with many of her friends. She twice rafted the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. In retirement, she delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered at the Gospel Cafe.
She is survived by a nephew, Danny Guest and wife, Bonnie; other extended family members; and a host of friends who will miss her sweet smile.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.