MEMORIaM Dr. José Alvarez was known for a couple of things — his love of teaching and music. He was able to combine the two to bring a unique aspect to his classroom. “He was the only professor who used music to encourage language and learning,” said Dr. Sherman X. Hou, department head of foreign languages. “He sang songs with them in Spanish and made sure that he was able to talk to them one on one; he got involved and made it fun, interesting.” Alvarez taught Spanish and composition at Missouri Southern and was loved by faculty and students alike. Alvarez was 59 when he died after being injured by the May 22 tornado. It would take seven days after the storm before friends and family found out that Alvarez had died on May 22, 2011. Many people helped search for him that week. “He was my friend; he loved his teaching and his students loved him,” said Beatrice Dubois, professor of foreign languages. Alvarez taught as an assistant professor for five years at Southern and was always looking for new ways to inspire students. He also wanted to help expand programs. “Whenever the department faced a financial crisis, he went directly to Dr. Speck to propose his idea of a global university, to help the university and department,” Hou said. “He really cared about the program growth and wanted to be involved.” Alvarez received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Universidad National de Columbia and master’s and doctoral degrees at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Alvarez is survived by his wife, Linda Alvarez of Joplin; the mother of his children, Gloria Alvarez, of Miami, Florida; and three children Alex, Sebastian and Julian. Abraham H. (Abe) Khoury, 26, of Joplin, Missouri, died May 31, 2011, at University Hospital in Columbia from injuries sustained in the Joplin tornado. Born December 7, 1984, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, he lived in Joplin most
of his life, attended Joplin public schools and graduated from Joplin High School in 2004. He was pursuing his degree in business and entrepreneurship at Missouri Southern State University. He also worked as a server at Outback Steakhouse in Joplin. Abe was a Christian, who loved fishing, camping and the outdoors. He also loved to play Texas Hold’em and aspired to play professionally. He played high school football and was a passionate Kansas City Chiefs fan. Survivors include his mother, Teresa Worley, Joplin; his father, John Khoury, Gallatin, Tennessee; three brothers, Frank Carey and Nicholas and Michael Khoury; a sister, Samantha Khoury; and a stepbrother, Zach Worley. Don Lansaw, taken suddenly, was the husband of Bethany Lansaw, an employee in the talent search office at Missouri Southern State University. Don and Bethany were at home when the tornado struck Joplin. Seeking shelter in the bathtub, Don used his body to shield his wife. “Don did everything he could to keep me safe,” said Bethany. “He refused to let the tornado take me.” After realizing her husband was hurt, Bethany ran to find an ambulance. “I just knew I had to get my husband help and fast,” said Bethany. While Bethany was looking for help, family friends came over to find Don and Bethany. While searching for Bethany, they found the Lansaws’ dog, Whisper, and took him to Bethany. “We have been our own little family and miss Don so very much,” said Bethany. Don, 31, was full of love and adored by friends and family. He owned Lansaw Technologies and was a licensed Realtor with Charles Burt. A former football player, Don had the size and strength to protect his wife. “He was my strong, linebacker-sized husband,” said Bethany. “He had so much love in his heart, and I know he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.” He is survived by his wife as well as his
parents, Donald Wayne Lansaw Sr., Joplin, and Beth Lansaw, Seneca; brother, Zach Lansaw, Joplin; grandmother, Mary Sargent, Carl Junction; and father- and mother-inlaw, Jim and Donna Krudwig, Webb City. Jeff Taylor, ’01, will be remembered not only for his service but also for the smile he wore. “He was always willing to help and would give the shirt off of his back,” said Holly Phillips, assistant to chief of police for the Riverside Police Department in Riverside, Missouri. Taylor, an alumnus of Missouri Southern, was 31 when he died June 3, 2011, due to injuries sustained after lightening struck the ground near him on May 23. Taylor volunteered to be one of 12 individuals to come to Joplin to help with the aftermath of the May 22 tornado. He was the first officer to die in the line of duty of the Riverside Police Department. Taylor was added to the Joplin Police Department’s Wall of Honor, made up of 20 police officers and firefighters. “We felt he died in service of citizens of Joplin, and because of that, we felt it right to add him to the wall,” said Joplin Chief of Police Lane Roberts. Taylor was said to be a “highly dedicated officer and devoted public servant” and was named Officer of the Year in 2008. He worked at the Webb City Police Department before moving to Riverside in 2005. “He was an excellent officer, proactive, didn’t need much guidance,” said Webb City Assistant Police Chief Don Melton. “Jeff had the blue flame, but he had control of it.” Melton, who graduated from Southern in 1995, remained close to Taylor after he left the Webb City Police Department. Melton said the addition of Taylor to Joplin’s Wall of Honor was a wonderful gesture by the city of Joplin. The city also named one of the temporary FEMA housing parks after Taylor, the Officer Jeff Taylor Memorial Park, located just south of the Joplin Regional Airport. Taylor is survived by his wife, Kelly, and two sons, Caden, 3, and Cameron, 5. — By Lakin Adams, ’12, and Ashley Linebarger, ’12
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