Myra ‘Joan’ Bush (’93 Ph.D.), Coppell. Though she began her long career in education as a music teacher, Dr. Bush found her calling in educational research and evaluation when working on her Ph.D. She worked as a data analyst, program evaluator and contractor for several school districts, with her final job as executive director of research and evaluation for Dallas ISD. She was known for her musical talent, thoughtfulness and kindness.

Nick Sloan (’05), 46, former adjunct professor in UNT’s Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science and a member of the Texas Emergency Management Hall of Fame, died June 24 in Sunnyvale.

After high school, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a machine gunner and then earned a Bachelor of Science at UNT with a major in emergency administration and planning and a minor in legal studies. He went on to earn an M.B.A. from Baylor and an M.P.A. from Texas A&M University.

Nick worked as homeland security coordinator at Dallas Fire-Rescue, served as a school board trustee at Sunnyvale ISD and was director of business continuity and emergency management at Baylor Scott and White Health. He was inducted into the Texas Emergency Management Hall of Fame in 2022.

At UNT, he taught emergency management and disaster science from 2018 to 2020, the year he was diagnosed with ALS.

He and his family — his wife, Shanda, who was his high school sweetheart, and their four children — formed the #AttackLifeSloan Foundation with a mission to advocate for and serve all patients with ALS (pALS), their families and caretaker teams. They also were building an inventory of medical equipment to improve patients’ quality of life.

Nick was active with ALS Texas, helping to lead a new veteran support group, raising funds and shining a light on the research showing that veterans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS as the general population.

“’Attack life’ is just kind of the spirit with which I feel I am called to move,” Nick said in a video produced by his church. “I think it’s interesting, when you get diagnosed with something that’s so terminal, you view everything in a different light. Let’s do something with it.”

A memorial service is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 1, at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, 4124 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, 75219. The service also will be livestreamed.

James Alfred Simpkins (’70), 81, of Denton, a business alumnus and staff member from 1977 to 2004, died June 6.

James worked in construction while attending North Texas, moving to retail management before starting a career with the university in what was then known as the Physical Plant. He served for 27 years, where his management and computer programming skills greatly helped foster innovation. He was an automation systems operator and plant engineer who transitioned into a supervisory position in the micro-maintenance shop, which built and repaired the desktop computers and servers used across campus. His sharp wit, generosity and humorous nature will be fondly remembered by all who knew him.

Survivors include Gail, his wife of more than 60 years, who also worked at UNT.

Thomas E. ‘Ted’ Dalton (’59, ’67 M.Ed., ’71 Ed.D.), Lakehills. While at North Texas, he was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Alpha and the National Education Association. A lifelong learner, avid reader, educator and scholar, Ted spent 31 years in the classroom, retiring from teaching in 1990. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle in the Hill Country, driving his Corvette, lifting weights, listening to all kinds of music and watching the stock reports.

Margaret Jane Flowers Duffie (’51), Wichita Falls. She was a 1951 senior class officer, and was very active in organizing the 50th class reunion. She loved being a teacher -- especially for the fourth grade -- during her 17 years in Vernon and Wichita Falls schools. The Flowers family was a North Texas family. Her parents attended the Normal College and she and her three siblings were all graduates of North Texas.

Bobbie Browder Austin (’63), Hurst. She had many memories and friends from her Kendall Hall days and Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Bobbie worked as an assistant to the director of the counseling department for Tarrant County Junior College, now Tarrant County College, for more than 30 years and retired in 2017. Survivors include her husband, Charles Austin (’63).

Cynthia Ann Parkman-Cropp (’73), Denton. She worked in the North Texas bookstore and as a store manager and an accountant for various companies. She is survived by her children Jennifer Ellen Cropp-Medlin (’01) and Carl Adrian Cropp (’03). She was known for her cooking and she was active in 12 step recovery programs, serving as a sponsor for countless people.

Dorothy Jean Caraway Rucker (’49), Lufkin. She was retired from the school district in Alexandria, Louisiana, and was active in her church. At North Texas, she was a member of the Future Teachers of America and earned her degree in secondary education.

Kyla A. Foster (’13), Highland Village. A lifelong animal lover and an artist, Kyla attended UNT and discovered a love for science as well. She majored in biology with dreams of pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.

Kevin Shippey (’85), McKinney. The business major worked for several companies, including Compu-Com, T-Mobile, and Conifer Health Solutions. He loved sports and was a passionate UNT football and Dallas Cowboys football fan. He was a member of Kappa Sigma.