Alumni News

Dr. Larry Gene Keeter (STH ’71, GRS ’71)

By sthalum February 25th, 2024 in Alumni/ae Deaths

This obituary was originally posted by Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and can be found here.

LARRY G. KEETER was a Spindale native, a gifted teacher, ASU professor emeritus, and former Mayor of Boone.  He was professor of sociology at Appalachian State University, at Campbell University, and at Emerson College, Massachusetts, as well as faculty exchange professor at the University of Ireland in Dublin.  He wrote popular and scholarly articles on a variety of issues in sociology, minority relations, and religion, and produced DVD/videos on Max Weber, which were distributed by the American Sociological Association.  Dr. Keeter served as President of the North Carolina Sociological Association and in various offices and committees of the Southern Sociological Association, and of the Popular Culture Association, including Chair of the Elvis section.  He was an active member of First Baptist Church, serving as Sunday School teacher and Deacon.

Dr. Keeter was a graduate of Berea College with a major in philosophy and psychology and was the recipient of fellowships at Columbia University (National Woodrow Wilson Fellow), Harvard University (Hopkins Share), where he served as Baptist chaplain, and Boston University (Rockefeller Scholar), which granted his PH.D.  While completing his Ph.D.., he was pastor of the Congregational Church (UCC) in Winchester, Massachusetts, where both of his children were born.  As a graduate student, Keeter participated in the March on Washington, served as a counselor in the Billy Graham Evangelism Campaign at Harvard University, participated in the Student Vigil at the Lincoln Memorial (on his honeymoon) in support of the Civil Rights Act; and as a pastor, in the Poor Peoples’ Campaign in Washington, and in the School of Evangelism in the Billy Graham Crusade at Madison Square Gardens.

Dr. Keeter received summer faculty fellowships with NASA in Langley, Virginia; the National Endowment for the Arts at University of Berkeley, California; and the USIA Program in Poland.  As a sociology professor, he was very active with the ASU’s off-campus sites at the New York Loft (led over 50 ASU student programs) and at the App House in DC (led over 30 ASU student programs); as well as Elvis student programs and Elvis Week in Memphis; at the King and Carter Centers in Atlanta; and the ASU Summer Study Abroad Program ( led 5 ASU student programs to Europe); all these trips giving students immersive experience in on-the-hoof sociological study.  He always thought “outside the box.”  He enjoyed the theater in New York, Dublin, London, ASU, Barter, and Lees-McRae College, He was a founding member of the Elderhostel Program at ASU.  Throughout, Keeter chose to be an educator, not an administrator, serving in the classroom for his entire academic career.  He declined with gratitude all administrative offices.  He was not consumed by ambition but had a passion for teaching.  His career Philosophy was, “Do what you love to do, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”  Keeter was the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the University Trustee Teaching Award, the College of Arts and Sciences Teaching Award, the Alumni Teaching Award, and the Student Government Association Teaching Award, of which he was most proud.

Dr. Keeter’s university and community service included six years on the Faculty Senate, three years as the Chair; nine years as a founding delegate to the University of North Carolina Faculty Assembly; and eight year in the Boone Town Government, a four-year term on Town Council and then two terms as the first ASU Professor elected Mayor of Boone, retiring undefeated.  As a Town Council Member and as Mayor, he was instrumental in establishing the Town Manager system and the Office of Town Planner, the zoning and sign ordinances, the Greenway Trail, the Comprehensive Plan, the AppleCart, the Jones House, annexation, ABC control, the “Mayor’s Report” on local radio and TV, and the Town Council meeting on Cable vision.  He declined gratefully the opportunity to be a Watauga County Commissioner.

Inducted into the WataugaDems Hall of Fame, this high honor stated: “Larry’s two terms as Mayor was known as a progressive period for the Town of Boone – the Jones House purchase, the funding of AppleCart, the important sign ordinance (which reformed the cluttered and occluded look of Boone).  During Larry’s town service, Len Hagaman – who became Sheriff – served as Town Manager.  What you may not know about Larry: In the mid – 1990s, he spearheaded the effort to place a memorial to the German professor Max Weber (known as one of the ‘Fathers of Sociology’) at the Mount Airy house where Weber visited his relatives in 1904.”

Dr. Keeter is survived by his wife and love of his life, Ann Keeter, in Boone; a daughter, Dr. Laura Keeter and husband, Dr. Grant Fletcher in Seattle, Washington; and artist son, Kyle Keeter in Boone.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Lola Kay Collins, his brother, William Claude Keeter, his father William Eugene Keeter and mother, Lola Crotts Keeter all of Spindale, NC.  He was a romantic husband, a devoted dad-and he vacuumed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church, Audio-Visual Division; or to ASU Off-Campus Sites or to the ASU International Studies Program.

The above obituary was written by Larry Keeter.

Memorial services for Larry Keeter will be conducted Sunday afternoon, February 4, 2024, at 3 PM at First Baptist Church of Boone, officiated by Rev. Roy Dobyns and Dr. Alan Hauser.  A reception will follow services in the church fellowship hall.

Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Keeter family.

Reverend Harold C. Craige (STH ’63)

By sthalum February 18th, 2024 in Alumni/ae Deaths

This obituary was originally posted by Patron-Myer Funeral Home, Inc. and can be found here.

Rev. Harold Carr Craige, 85, of Montrose, PA, passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 in his home, surrounded by his family. Born October 20, 1938, in Meshoppen, PA, the son of Thomas Houston and Ruth Inez Palmer Craige II.

Harold was born in Meshoppen, PA where he grew up with his late brother Thomas Houston Craige III. He was an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America and graduated from Elk Lake High School where his mother Ruth taught in a one-room schoolhouse. He left Susquehanna County to attend Pennsylvania State University, graduating in 1960 in Psychology and furthered his education at Boston University, graduating in 1963 with a Masters in Divinity.

Rev. Craige was ordained to the ministry in 1963 and served within the Scranton Wyoming Conference in various churches for several years. It was at the Court Street United Methodist Church in Scranton, Pa where he met his wife of 57 years, Gloria.

Harold and Gloria spent the rest of their married lives taking care of others. They operated several personal care homes for those who needed special care including the Welsh Women's Home on Capouse Avenue, which later was a Personal Care Home, and The Methodist Home on Green Ridge Street, in West Scranton, PA.

Harold, who sometimes would forget to run his lofty ideas past his wife, Gloria, decided to return to Susquehanna County and purchase the former Auburn Rush Poor Asylum in 1988.

They operated their personal care home, Grandmother’s House, there for over 20 years where they continued to raise their family. Harold served in the Unitarian Universalist Church in Brooklyn, PA, for over 17 years after moving to Susquehanna County.

For those that knew Harold, you knew once he set his mind to something, it became his passion. Whether it was reading, puzzles, genealogy, amateur heavy equipment operator or even making homemade goat cheese. He loved sharing his interests with his friends and family. You could be sure he would share his latest findings or factoid when you would call or visit. Harold was a collector of memories - he kept every trinket, greeting card, picture, sermon, and planner. He found great joy in being surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Later in life, Harold poured his free time into being the Secretary of Meshoppen High Alumni and a member of the Penn State Alumni Association. He spent many hours at the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library doing genealogy research.

Survivors include his wife of over 57 years, Gloria Casparro Craige; four daughters; Carisa (Charles) Keller of Woodbridge, VA, Darinda (Dean) Cesario of West Grove, PA, Miranda (Lawrence) McElroy of Wilmington, DE, and Noelle Craige of Perkasie, PA; six sons, Nathanael Craige of Campbell, NY, Aaron (Requel) Craige of Montrose, PA, Justin (Christal) Craige of Pasadena, MD, Brandon Craige of Newark, DE, Michael Craige, Joshua Craige; sister-in-law, Shirley Craige of Snow Hill, MD; 15 grandchildren, 1 great grand-daughter; along with many nieces, nephew, and cousins. Harold is the last of his immediate family.

Services: Private

If desired, memorial contributions may be made to either the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association or the Unitarian Universalist Church, Brooklyn, PA.

Reverend Dr. Gene Malcolm Ferguson (STH ’57, ’80)

By sthalum February 18th, 2024 in Alumni/ae Deaths

This obituary was originally posted by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and can be found here.

Rev. Dr. Gene Malcolm Ferguson is reunited in heaven with his beloved wife of 62 years, the late Joy Reeves. Devoted father of Lori Jean (Klaus) Schonrank, James Alexander (Lillian) Ferguson; grandfather of Nathan Alexander (Christine) Ferguson, Wesley Malcolm Ferguson, Bret William (Kelli) Oldfield, Lindsay Leigh (Scott) Hannon; great-grandfather of Alexis Lee and Miranda Rae Ferguson, Connor Scott and Audrey Leigh Hannon, and Harper Rae Oldfield; brother of the late Patricia (John) Volker and uncle of Sean (Trish), Emma and Connor Fogarty. A graduate of Heidelberg College, Tiffin OH (B.A. degree) and Boston University School of Theology, Boston MA (S.T.B. and D. Min. degrees), Rev. Dr. Gene Ferguson was ordained Deacon in 1955 and ordained Elder in 1957, Genesee (Upper New York) Conference of the United Methodist Church. Rev. Dr. Gene Ferguson served as Pastor of The Methodist Church, LaGrange OH, Pastor, First United Methodist Church, West Webster NY, Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, Rochester NY, District Community Minister, Rochester District Urban Ministries, Interim District Superintendent, Rochester NY, President, Genesee Ecumenical Ministries, Senior Pastor, Kenmore United Methodist Church, Kenmore NY and Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Jamestown NY. Upon retirement in 1995 following 40 years of service, Rev. Dr. Gene Ferguson served as part-time Pastor of Outreach Ministries at Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua NY and during this time served as member (9 years), and President (3 years) of the Board of Trustees, The United Methodist House, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua NY.

Reverend Dr. Richard N. Dearing (STH ’64)

By sthalum February 18th, 2024 in Alumni/ae Deaths

This obituary was originally posted by Metz Mortuary and can be found here.

On January 16th at Deer Lodge Centre, our dear dad, Dr. Richard (Dick) Dearing died.

He is survived by his children Kevin (Susan Barnett) and Robin (Jason Noordman) Dearing and stepchildren Geoff (Jill Cooper), Jacquie and Pauline (Darren Osadchuk) Ripat; his grandchildren Ben, Maureen, Emma, Sam, Brandon, Kieran, Nicholas and Alex; and his favourite nieces Janet and Jean Matzner and Julie Hoffman.

Dick was born on June 28th , 1937, in Lushton, Nebraska to William (Bill), Irma (Joy) Dearing. He had two sisters, Peggy (Don) Matzner and Kay Dearing. During the war, the family moved to Florida where his father served as an airplane mechanic, before returning to settle in York, Nebraska.

Dick graduated from York High School in 1955 where he played for the Duke football team and worked many jobs after school – delivering papers, collecting bottles, working as a theater usher and flipping burgers. After graduation he began working part time as a minister while doing a Bachelor of Theology degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University. He received his Master of Divinity at Iliff School of Theology in Denver and a Doctorate of Theology from Boston University. A good friend whom he met at Iliff (Harold King) recruited Dick for the University of Winnipeg’s Theology department in 1974. He was very proud of his work at the Interfaith Marriage and Family Institute – now Aurora Family Centre- which culminated in developing the internationally accredited Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the U of W.

While working on his first degree, Dick met Kristin Linn. They married in 1961 and later adopted two adorable children, Kevin and Robin. They lived in Thornton, Colorado before moving to Winnipeg in 1974. They settled in Fort Garry, separating in 1978. Dick eventually met Rosalind through Fort Garry United Church. They married in 1983 and Dick became a step-parent to Geoff, Jacquie and Pauline. They lived for 34 years on D’Arcy Drive where we have many great memories of Sunday dinners, lively pool games, and weddings.

Dick retired in 2003 to enjoy time with Rosalind, his hobbies and grandchildren. He loved watching his grandchildren’s hockey games, ski races, concerts, and musicals. He loved taking naps, woodworking, making stained-glass projects for family and friends, gardening, golfing, canoeing, visiting with friends and traveling with Rosalind. The two of them picked a big trip every year and saw many parts of the world before Rosalind was unable to travel. Dad took great pride in taking care of Rosalind and fully supported her choice to use MAiD.

Dad’s last few years with us were both quirky and sad. The steady decline of dementia was a long and winding road. We spent a lot of time trying to keep him with us for as long possible. He drove us crazy; he made us laugh and he never lost his gift of therapy language.

The family would like to thank all staff at Deer Lodge Centre, especially 3 East and Tower 6, for their exceptional care and respect for the residents with dementia and family members who support them. The staff’s willingness to call him “Dr. Dearing” put him at ease every day.

Dad, thank you for picking us and being the best father, a kid could ask for. We will miss you.

A celebration of Richard Dearing’s life will be held at Fort Garry United Church, 800 Point Road on Saturday, February 10 at 2:00 p.m.

Throughout his life, Dad was a firm believer in serving the common good. He supported numerous charities and taught his children to do the same. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the United Way (which supports dozens of vital organizations) or any charity of your choice.