Mr. John Paul McElroy

John Paul McElroy, born October 4, 1927 in Amarillo, Texas died November 7, 2016 in Tyler, Texas. He is survived by his caring and devoted wife of 67 years, Patricia Meanor McElroy, Tyler, Texas; Daughter Barbara McElroy Knight and husband James A. Knight, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Granddaughter Elizabeth Knight, Los Angeles, California; Grandson James McElroy Knight and wife Alanna Junge Knight, Dyersville, Iowa. He is preceded in death by his parents Mary Alice Evans McElroy and Louis Price McElroy; and beloved son Frederick William McElroy. He was a graduate of Sunset High School Dallas, Texas; graduate of the United States Naval Training Preparatory Academy Bainbridge, Maryland; attended Rice Institute Houston, Texas; Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas; received his BFA from Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, and MFA from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. As a post-graduate researcher was awarded the Florida Governor’s Research grant for studies in organic clay bodies and materials. He served in the Navy on the U.S.S. Ajax during World War II and the U.S.S. Henderson during the Korean conflict. Professor Emeritus McElroy began his teaching career in New Braunfels, Texas in elementary through high school art classes and the Greenhill School of Dallas, Texas. He went on to teach art and art history at Stephen F. Austin University, University of Dallas, and Southern Methodist University where he served as chairman of the Art and Art History Department, Meadows School of the Arts. He was a scholar in the history of Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican, Latin American and American Indigenous peoples’ ceramic art; Asian ceramic art; and Texas History. Referred to by many as the “Grandfather of Ceramics in Texas.” His drawing, ceramic, and wood work pieces are found in private and museum collections in the United States and Internationally. The professor was an eagle scout, an avid sportsman, a member of many professional organizations. He was active in his church and served on the parish vestry at St. Francis Anglican Church, Dallas, Texas and St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Mineola, Texas. He was a wonderful husband and father. As his final statement to his profession and sense of irony he crafted his own cedar casket in which he will be buried. Grave side service at Laurel Land Funeral Home Dallas, Texas, Friday, November 11, 2016, 1:00 p.m.. In lieu of flowers, contribution may be made in his name to the Hospice of East Texas, Tyler Texas or a charity of your choice.