Author: John Gouch

Morgan R. Crocker, 19, passed away on Sunday, April 24. She was a junior double major in chemistry and mathematical sciences from Campobello, South Carolina.

“Morgan was an inspiration to all who knew her,” said Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. L. Christopher Miller. “While we are saddened by her passing, we take comfort in knowing the impact she made on the Clemson University community. The Clemson Family grieves this loss with her family and friends.”

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is providing grief counseling to students. Any student who wants to speak to a counselor should contact CAPS at 864-656-2451. Counseling services are also available to faculty and staff through Deer Oaks, the University’s Employee Assistance Program provider, at 866-327-2400.

The family will hold visitation from 2-3 p.m. followed by funeral services on Thursday, April 28 at Seawright Funeral Home in Inman, South Carolina. View the full obituary here.

Retiree Linda Katherine Cocke, 71, of Clemson April 19, 2022. Cocke retired from Clemson in 2011 after more than 34 years. She was employed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

She was a 1971 graduate of Winthrop College and briefly taught physical education in Clinton before coming to work at Clemson. She was selected Staff Member of the Year in 2005.

There will be a private family burial. A memorial service will be held at Clemson United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 30. The family will receive friends after the service.

Her full obituary is posted online.

Finance professor Thomas Michael Springer, 66, of Central died April 19, 2022.

Hired in 2005, he worked at Clemson for more than 16 years.

“Tom was an outstanding professor, researcher, mentor and a valuable member of the Clemson family,” said Wendy York, dean of the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they grieve during this extremely difficult time.”

A celebration of Springer’s life will be held at a later date at Alive Wesleyan Church.

His full obituary is posted online.

Theresa W. Cleveland, 75, of Seneca died March 9, 2022

Cleveland retired from Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management in 2001 as an administrative assistant after 29 years of service.

Her full obituary is posted online.

Retiree Donna Sue Liles-Kiser, 75, of Westminster died March 26, 2022.

Liles-Kiser retired from Mechanical Engineering where she was employed as an administrative assistant for almost 20 years.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 30, at Sandifer Funeral Home with burial to follow at Oconee Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, at Sandifer Funeral Home.

Her full obituary is posted online.

Retiree Mary Elizabeth Saunders died March 12, 2022.

She retired from the Center of Environmental Toxicology in 2010 with more than 25 years of service.

Walton Harrison Owens Jr., 88, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, died on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

His academic focus, both in teaching and research, was the administration of public institutions. By midpoint in his career, he had devised a means to involve his methodology students in gathering data from municipal residents (Anderson and Aiken under contract) and then analyzing the material in Clemson’s budding computer center.

Years later he introduced students to the possibilities of Total Quality Management devised by the American J. Edwards Deming in post-war Japan.

He also served a sabbatical year on Carroll Campbell’s staff, spent multiple terms on the ETV Commission and devoted his final year at Clemson in 1994-1995 as president of the Faculty Senate. Afterward he continued to serve the state through work on the Commission on Higher Education.

William Brown Jr. , 89, of Lugoff, Professor Emeritus of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, died on February 22, 2022.

Brown was a professor at Clemson from 1974 to 1993 specializing in the field of Agricultural Research Science.

Brown was a 1953 graduate of the University of Tennessee and received his Master of Animal Breeding degree from Oklahoma State University. From 1958 to 1970, he was county agent in Animal Husbandry for the University of Tennessee. In 1972, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas in Beef Production and Genetics. From 1972 to 1974, he was an associate professor of Animal Science for University of Georgia before joining the Clemson faculty.

His full obituary is posted online.

Retiree Louie Keasler Jr., 88, of Clemson died February 23, 2022. He retired from Clemson Housing in 1993 after nearly 20 years. He also owned a shoe repair shop in Seneca.

He was buried at Memory Gardens Inc. in Central on February 28 after a graveside service.

His full obituary is posted online.

Steven Canfield Blackburn, 59, of Easley, senior database administrator in the Department of Infrastructure Services and Operations in CCIT, died Sunday, February 27, 2022.

Backburn graduated from Clemson with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and was hired in 1990. He was employed by the University more than 31 years.

There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, at All Saint’s Anglican Church, 3601 Old Buncombe Road, Greenville.

Blackburn’s full obituary is posted online.