Honoring Marcie Beasley

By Gary Vaughn for Texas Tech University System | November 5, 2007

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Marcie always had a smile in her voice. When you spoke to her on the phone, it's as if she was talking to her best friend. That's just the way Marcie Beasley made you feel.

Even until her last day, Marcie’s voice remained perky and full of life. Sadly, the chemotherapy and radiation had taken its toll on her body, but not her spirit. Marcie passed away on October 30, 2007.

“This disease came without warning,” explained longtime friend Kay Cash. “So many people don’t know what to do or say.”

Marcie told me it had been a wake-up call to share her faith and blessings more with people and she did more than ever.

“You just don’t make new, old friends,” said Kay, understanding that Marcie was one-of-a-kind.

Don and Kay Cash were very close to Marcie and her husband Steve, although they’ve only known Steve for a few years. He and Marcie were married in 2005. However, Kay and Marcie were sorority sisters at Texas Technological College. When you would ask them which sorority, they would both get that sheepish-grin and look at each other hoping the other wouldn’t say.

“Let’s just say we were very close,” Kay laughed during this interview in Marcie’s home in September, 2007, acknowledging that youthful mischief doesn’t always need to resurface. Marcie’s giggle and corner-of-the-eye look said that she agreed.

“We were neighbors for a long time,” added Don, who said they once sold Marcie one of the two condominiums they owned in Lubbock. “That was the best deal I ever made… Marcie could cook.”

The friends laughed out loud again, knowing there are pages worth of vignettes within their lives.

“People wondered what to do for Marcie when she got this news,” Don said. “Kay and I even scratched our heads. After a while, a scholarship seemed like the right thing to do.”

So, Don and Kay gave $100,000 and established the Marcie Cates Johnston Beasley Presidential Scholarship for Texas Tech students. Marcie’s mother was then the first to donate to the fund.

“I wanted to be the first to contribute to this wonderful idea,” said Alta Mae Cates, who is 92 years young.

“Kay and Don are people who believe in giving back,” said Marcie, not wanting the extra attention at the time.

“We’ve given to a number of good causes on the Tech campus, but nothing like this,” Don said, looking Marcie squarely in the eye and pointing like a father gently disciplining his child. “And we wouldn’t have done this for anyone but you.”

The friends began to banter back and forth as to who should be recognized for this effort.

Marcie, always stewardship minded, said this goes to show the generosity of people like Kay and Don. Like a good friend, Kay was quick to remind her of the obvious.

“Honey, you were the inspiration for this level of gift,” Kay said stringently. “This is for you.”

“Our dream is that this remains the most prestigious scholarship any Tech student can receive,” added Don. “This is so much bigger than all of us and I hope others contribute to it so they can honor Marcie.”

Marcie loves what she does for Tech and she always has. For more than ten years she has worked in the Chancellor’s office, most recently with the Chancellor’s Council. She was the driving force behind getting Don and Kay involved at Tech more than five years ago. Her contributions have been as simple as helping students find their way around campus. She has been known to have given some kids a personal tour and persuaded them to change their minds and become a Red Raider overnight.