Mattie Medford

Mattie Bea, the middle daughter of Ira Nelson Prather and Jewell Baxter Prather, passed away at age 93 on November 9, 2012. She was born June 18, 1919, on family land in Leon County Texas near Marquez, Texas. She attended Concord Schools, graduating in 1936. Her goal was to become a teacher. She achieved this goal serving more than 47 years as an educator and county agent in various Texas locations. She tried to create enthusiasm for learning in her classes, helping her students achieve optimum results. She mentored many students during their years of schooling, and afterwards as they worked in various careers. She attended Texas State College for Women (TSCW), now Texas Woman’s University, in Denton, graduating in 1940. While attending TSCW she met the love of her life, Gene Medford, who was attending North Texas State Teachers College during this time. Mattie Bea took a teaching job at Buffalo Texas High School in 1940. She and Gene were married December 29, 1941, prior to his serving in the Army Air Corp during World War II. In 1943, Mattie Bea took a job as County Home Demonstration Agent for Walker County, Texas in Huntsville. She remained in this job until 1947, when she moved back to Leon County to be near family while expecting a child. Their son Richard Prather Medford was born November 8, 1947. Mattie Bea resumed teaching at the Concord School, while Gene began working as a Meteorologist with the National Weather Bureau in Washington D.C., and later New York, before finally returning to Houston. Mattie commuted to Huntsville taking courses and received a Masters in Home Economics Education and Textiles from Sam Houston State Teachers College (SHSTC), now Sam Houston State University, in 1956. Mattie Bea taught elementary school grades at Concord School until 1957, when she was offered a faculty position at SHSTC. Her association with Sam Houston continued some 32 years until her retirement in 1989. Between 1966 and 1969, Mattie Bea continued her education obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy in Home Economics Education and Textile Science from Texas Woman’s University. She later served as Department Chairperson and in Administration at Sam Houston. During her tenure at Sam Houston she helped her Department achieve a significant growth in curriculum, degree programs, student enrollment and overall achievement of enhanced academic credibility. She was actively involved in solicitation and promotion of various scholarship programs for students, as well as sponsorship of numerous student professional and social organizations. One social organization the Delta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, she served as Chapter advisor for a number of years. She was very active in Professional Organizations connected to her field of study, providing consulting and management expertise over the years. She participated with other Sam Houston faculty and administration in such areas as providing consulting reviews and teacher education programs to developing nations in Africa. Mattie Bea received numerous awards during her career at Sam Houston, including Outstanding Professor Sam Houston State University (1960), Home Economist of the Year in Texas (1980), and Outstanding Home Economics College Teacher (1981). Mattie Bea loved life in general, her church, her family and heritage, Sam Houston, and the many associates and friends with whom she crossed paths. She was proud of her ability to call many people all over Texas by name and relate their family history and relationships. She was predeceased by her husband Gene Medford, sisters Rachel Prather Allen and Eleanor Prather Dube. She is survived by one son, Richard Prather Medford and wife Julie Ann of Fairfield, a grand daughter Corin Kathleen Medford Burrell and husband Eric of Lubbock, a grand son Thomas Edward Childs Medford of Flugerville, great grand daughters Harper Ann Burrell and Elizabeth Prather Burrell of Lubbock, nieces Linda Jean Backus, Patricia Kay Dube, Virginia Kayron Dube, Nancy Jane Dube Bohne and husband Kurt, and Lawren Ann Dube Rives and husband John, one brother in law Lawrence E. Dube, one sister in law Dorothy Medford Murphree Shepherd and husband Ray, nephews Dan Murphree and wife Cathy, Roger Murphree, great nieces Leah Rachel Rives Taylor and husband Jeff, Libby Rives, Carrie Lynn Murphree robbins and husband Blake, Rachel Turner and husband Quincy, Patti Murphree and great nephew Garrett Murphree. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to the: (1)Mattie Bea Prather Medford Family and Consumer Sciences Endowed Scholarship, or the (2)Family and Consumer Sciences Memorial Endowment Fund, both Sam Houston State University, c/o Department Chair -Department of Family and Consumer Sciences , Box 1242, Huntsville, Texas 77341, or to the (3) First Methodist Church Fairfield Building Fund 201 North Mount, Fairfield, Texas 75840. Visitation will be held at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home, 450 E Main St (FM 488) Fairfield, Texas Tuesday November 13, 2012 from 5:00-7:00 PM. Funeral services will Wednesday November 14, 2012 at 10:30 AM at the First United Methodist Church, 201 North Mount, Fairfield, Texas.

Mattie Medford

June 18, 1919 - November 9, 2012