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Ms. Mary McPhaul (Deceased)

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Obituary:

LAFAYETTE – Mary Olive McPhaul, aged 81, passed away on January 9, 2013 at her home in Lafayette. Funeral services will be at First Baptist Church of Lafayette on January 12, 2013 with visitation beginning at 9:00 am at the church until time of service. Service will be at 1:00 pm. Services will be conducted by Reverend Steve Horn assisted by Reverend Presley Riley. Interment will be at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.

She is survived by special friends, Ted Kibbe, La Juana Handschin and Jewel Horn all of Lafayette, Henri Alice Wise of Ruston, cousins John L. McPhaul, Jr., Mary Ruth McPhaul, Johnny McPhaul and Ray McPhaul of Birmingham, Alabama. Although Mary Olive’s biological family was small, she was an important member of many families especially the Blanco, Kibbe, and Wallis families.

Mary Olive McPhaul was born on December 2, 1931 in Birmingham, Alabama. A descendant of a long line of ministers and educators, she was the only child of Raymond L. McPhaul and Mary Giles McPhaul of Birmingham, Alabama. She retired on July 1, 1991 as Dean of Student Life at USL.

The same year, the university recognized her with its Honorary Alumni Award. She is one of only four people to ever receive the award, which acknowledges extraordinary loyalty and service. The Rose Garden in the women’s dormitory area was dedicated to her upon her retirement.

Educated at public schools in Birmingham, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the city’s Samford University.

She taught in public schools in Alabama and Florida. She also taught in Samford’s English department, but her true calling would prove to be working with students outside the classroom.

She received her master’s degree in counseling and guidance from the University of Alabama. A career rooted in gaining a deeper understanding of young people began in earnest when she became resident counselor at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

She arrived at SLI in 1957 as associate dean of women. She became dean of women, then coordinator and administrator of the department of student personnel before accepting the post she held until retirement in 1991.

As dean of student life, she oversaw numerous programs, initiatives and organizations that included UL Lafayette’s Counseling and Testing Center, Student Health Services and Child Development Center.

Her far-reaching involvement with students ranged from work with the university’s intramural programs to individual counseling.

She coordinated UL Lafayette’s freshman orientation, led student organizations and guided honor societies that included the Alpha Lambda Delta women’s honor society, Phi Kappa Phi national honor society and Pi Delta Phi French honor society.

She served as advisor to the Panhellenic Council, and was a member of the Pi Delta Phi French honor society and American Association for University Women.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lafayette, where she served as associate director of the church’s Sunday school program and teacher for many years.

Pallbearers are Dr. E. Joseph Savoie, Dr. Jimmy Clarke, Joe Rhodes, Edward Pratt, Michael Olivier, and Miles Gosnell. Honorary Pallbearers are Raymond S. Blanco, Ted Kibbe and Gary Ruffin.

A special thank you to caregivers, Tammy and Jalisa Brooks, and Amedisys Hospice nurse, Vicky, is extended by friends and family for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to either First Baptist Christian School, P. O. Box 3888, Lafayette, LA 70502 or University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, P. O. Box 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504.

Personal condolences may be sent to the McPhaul family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.

Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Published in the The Advertiser from January 10 to January 11, 2013