Gerald Brent McAfee

Brent McAfee Brent was born October 11, 1935 in Longview, Texas to Raymond Auti McAfee and Lorene Swafford McAfee, naming him Gerald Brent but never using the first name. In 1942, they moved to the McElroy Gulf camp, south of Crane. In the ninth grade, 1950, they moved to the Gulf camp, just south of Goldsmith. Brent talked often about growing up in these camps, all the fun he had with his many friends as well as all the mischief they got into, and how close many of them remained. Graduating from Odessa High School in 1954, he went on to graduate from Odessa College with an Associate's Degree. He played tennis at OHS and at OC and continued playing throughout his entire life until last year. He attended Sul Ross State University in Alpine from 1957-1959, completing a Bachelor's Degree in geology with a biology minor. Serving in the United States Army from 1959-1961, he spent most of that time as an army medic assigned to William Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso. He worked for Baroid Division as a drilling fluid engineer from 1961-1962 and decided that was probably not a good career choice for him. He attended graduate school at SRSU from 1962-1964 and received a Master's Degree in biology/geology. His thesis title was, "The Botanical and Geological Studies of Packsaddle Mountain, Brewster County, Texas." He also completed many graduate hours, beyond his Masters, in biology and geology at various universities. One of his favorites was a 6-week graduate course at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in biology and geology, concluding with a 14-day raft trip from Glen Canyon through Marble Canyon and Grand Canyon, a distance of 240 miles. He taught biology and coached tennis at OHS for 1 1/2 years from 1964 - 1966. In January of 1967, he started teaching at Odessa College. As Professor McAfee, or sometimes just plain "Mac," he taught geology and biology and later, marine ecology - a unique two-week travel course to Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico, twice a year for 34 years. He became Department Chairman of Geology/Physics/Chemistry. He finally retired in 2009, completing 42 years, deciding he better leave before they had to take him out in a pine box. He loved teaching and the students, loved his field both as a career and a hobby. He very rarely took vacations, choosing instead to take groups of students and adults on class-related field trips throughout the Trans-Pecos and Mexico, and many continuing education trips into various parts of Mexico on long weekends, during school holidays and spring breaks. Those trips included Barranca del Cobre (Copper Canyon) - Creel, Cascada de Basaseachi, Batopilas and Urique; Cuatro Cienegas, Coahuila, Mexico; Real de Catorce, state of San Luis Potosi - one of the largest old silver mining areas in Mexico. He ended up with a core group of adults who called themselves Brent's Trip Groupies who went on every single one of his trips that they could. Right before his death, his two girls and two of his granddaughters spent time with him - spoiling him rotten, snuggling and receiving much wisdom. Everyone was amazed at how well he was doing. This visit with family was evidently the last thing on his bucket list. Brent died November 19, 2014 at home with his wife and her son at his side. Even this strong and seemingly invincible man could not win the battle with Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Per his wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes scattered in a favorite area. There will be no funeral or memorial service, no food or flowers. Instead, he requested donations be made to the OC Geology Department and SRSU Geology and/or Biology departments. Donations may be made to Odessa College Foundation for Geology student scholarships at : Odessa College Foundation 201 W. University Blvd 432-335-6646 foundation@odessa.edu Donations may be made to Sul Ross State University by contacting Aida Luevanos at 432-837-8000. Specify W.N. McAnulty Geology Merit Scholarship or Biology Department Scholarship. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Acres West Funeral Chapel and online condolences may be sent to the family through acreswestfuneral.com. Brent was preceded in death by his parents and his son. He leaves behind his sister, Leah White of Odessa; two daughters, Stacey Roussiat of Sterling, Virgina and her three children, Maxime, Anabelle, and Blossom, and Kelly Cunningham of Taunton, England and her son Alex; and his son's three children, Reilly, Caleigh, and Collin of Belton, Texas; and his partner and wife of almost 27 years, Sandy McAfee, and her three children and twin grandsons who adored their Grandpa Mac. His wife would like to thank the wonderful people at UTSW in Dallas who worked so hard to maintain good quality of life, Dr. Amaram who always greeted us with "and how are you two lovebirds?" Dr. Kubacek, who only met Brent once but took an immediate, avid interest in him and his disease; Mike Garcia and Christina at Med-Way; and Home Hospice for helping us through his last few days. Rest in peace, Buddy, you were greatly loved by many.