In Loving Memory

classical favorites like Clair de Lune by Debussy and Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona. He also enjoyed playing hymns and popular songs of the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s. He liked swimming, diving and of course having a big garden where he would grow enough vegetables and fruits for the entire neighborhood.

In 1952 John took his first teaching position at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. On October 10th of that same year he married his childhood friend Linetta Amanda Glass. They purchased their first house in Nashville and lived there for two years. Then they moved to California where he was certified in an Applied Mathematics Program at Stanford University. He then worked for an aviation company as an engineer but missed teaching. They moved to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). While studying at UCLA he taught math at California State University, Northridge. In 1959 their only child, Sylvia Valene Hatcher was born. While in Los Angeles they hosted pool parties, and he played minor league baseball. John was awarded his Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1968 from UCLA.

In 1969, Dr. John R. Hatcher broke the racial barrier as the first African American professor at Southwest Missouri State University, now Missouri State University, in Springfield, Missouri. He used his knowledge of baseball as a coach for the South Haven Baptist Church Girls Softball Team in the mid-1970’s. He retired from SMSU in 1987 but he did not stop teaching. In 1989-1990 he taught at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota as a Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor. He also was a Visiting Professor Emeritus at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, known as the University of Missouri – Rolla at the time. Throughout his career and retirement Dr. Hatcher published several articles in various journals of the American Mathematical Society. He continued to do research until shortly before his death on November 26, 2022; he was 94 years old. He is survived by his wife of 70 years: Linetta Amanda Glass Hatcher, his daughter and her husband: Phillip and Sylvia Smith, his grandchildren and their spouses: Gerald and Dominique Bargaineer and John-Rudolph and Madison Smith, his great-grandchildren: Gerald Anthony Bargaineer III, Giovanna Arielle Bargaineer and Khari Hatcher Smith, many relatives, neighbors, colleagues and friends. peacefully in his home on January 8th, 2023, after a long battle with colon cancer. D.C. was born on March 18, 1932, to Allen and Alberta Fitz Dean in Jackson County, Arkansas. After graduating from Lincoln High, D.C. met Barbara Ingram and they wed in 1959. To that union, 3 children were born, Patricia (Toney) Burton, Durell (Rita) Dean and Adrian (Kimberly) Dean. D.C. worked at Terrell-Phelps Chevrolet, RC Cola bottling company, The Greene County Sheriff’s Department, and retired from Sherwin Williams paint company.

D.C. held many influential positions such as being a Golden Glove champion boxer and coached many champions at The Boy’s Club. He also was a longtime member of The Springfield Sertoma Club, where he served countless years at events like the Chili Cookoff and Wing-a-palooza. D.C. was mostly well known for taking over as the cook at Rudy’s BBQ at the Ozark Empire Fair after Rudy Ingram passed away. Though D.C. quit smoking cigars years ago, he continued smoking the meat until closing Rudy’s BBQ’s doors in 2017.

In his spare time, D.C. enjoyed playing and coaching baseball/ softball, fishing, bowling, attending NASCAR races, and spending time with family and friends. D.C. confessed his faith in Jesus Christ at Gibson Chapel, where he was an active member until he was no longer able to attend.

Dekoven D.C. Dean, 90, of Springfield, Missouri passed away

D.C. was preceded in death by his father and mother and 11

Continued on page 15 continued from page 14 of his 13 brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Dean, his three children, Patricia, Durell, and Adrian, his grandchildren Anthony, Derek, Ashley, Tausha, Taja, and Marvin, his great grandchildren Terrell and Myles, and his brotherin-law Charles Ingram, his brother Mr. Noble Dean Sr. of McCory, Arkansas, his sister Mrs. Catherine Jones of Temple Hills, Maryland, and many nieces, nephews, loved ones and friends. D.C. lived a long wonderful life, with a constant contagious smile on his face. He was a genuinely kind, easy going man and rarely met a stranger. church service. That morning, he was expected to sing with Turning Point Church’s Mass Choir as part of our Martin Luther King, Jr. observance.

Towards the end of his life, many people contributed to helping him by calling, visiting and showing care.

And for that, the family is eternally grateful. It takes a village to, in D.C.’s words “Getter Done”!

The Turning Point Church family is sad to announce the passing of our brother in Christ, Deacon Larry Gates. He died unexpectedly from cardiac arrest at the age of 71 on Sunday, January 15th while at his home preparing for

“He was a gentle, loving giant… and might I add, smooth with the moves. He will be deeply missed,” said Lora Easterwood-Stafford. The Akron, Ohio native spent a large part of his professional career in the insurance industry. His later years were spent as a driver for his own taxi service, and with Springfield Public Schools as a bus driver.

Gates is remembered as the “life of the party;” always sharply dressed and very smooth! He was TPC’s resident expert on all things “cool!” He and his beautiful wife of 11 years, Valerie Robin- son-Gates, were always seen ballroom dancing around Springfield, Detroit-style! The two were fondly known as “Mr. G” and “Lady V.” “I danced with him in one of [their] classes; I was messing up. But instead of telling me that, he said, ‘Come on sis, you can be my partner,’” said Tyra Knox. When he wasn’t dancing or teaching lessons, Gates was faithfully serving as a Turning Point Church deacon, which he did for many years. Whenever visitors would arrive, he was one of the first people to welcome them with a handshake or a hug. Gates always had a positive spirit and offered an encouraging word to anyone who needed it. Following conversations, he would often close by saying “love and respect.”