Jeff Alvin Pyatte, PhD

Dr. Jeff Alvin Pyatte entered into the eternal kingdom of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 18, 2024. He was born to Leona (Calhoun) Pyatte and Jeff Alonzo Pyatte in a primitive home in Minneapolis, North Carolina, high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Carole Pyatte Abramis, son-in-law Richard Wynne, and brothers-in-law George Abramis and Fred Propst. Left to cherish his memories are his beloved wife of 44 years, Dr. Elizabeth Wright Pyatte; older sister, Ila Pyatte Propst of Gold Hill, NC; daughters, Kim Pyatte Wynne and Lynn Pyatte DePoy (Anthony DePoy) of Atlanta, GA; stepdaughter, Dr. Anna Wright Stowell of Dallas, TX (Christopher Stowell); grandchildren Toni Wynne Shepherd (Nickolas), Rio DePoy and Scott Stowell; and nephews Jeff and Ron Propst.

Jeff cherished his mountain home along the Toe River despite no electricity or indoor plumbing. From early childhood, he fed the farm animals, guided the cows up and down the mountains twice a day, trapped mink and beaver to buy winter shoes, and built houses with his father and grandfather. He graduated from Cranberry High School and was awarded a full work scholarship in physics to The University of North Carolina, where he was on the wrestling team. The National Science Foundation funded his master’s and doctoral programs in math and physics at Duke and The University of Virginia. He credits his scholarships to the late James E. Heaton, his high school mentor. After graduating from UVA, he taught at The University of West Florida in Pensacola, where he was an admired tenured professor and Department Chair of Professional Education.

In 1980, Jeff married Elizabeth, a colleague at UWF. Soon after, they won a 10M federal grant to create a teaching machine by connecting an Apple IIe computer to a LaserDisc player, an early prototype of today’s online education. This award-winning program led them to careers at IBM. Always working side-by-side, their success as a professional team spanned 3 decades and allowed them to live on the beach in Destin, FL, where Jeff loved surf fishing. After retiring, they bought a 2nd home in Dallas near Anna, joined Park Cities Baptist Church, and made lasting friends. Their days were filled with joy and many family trips to Club Med in the Caribbean and Bora Bora. In 2019, a distracted teen in Destin failed to stop at a red light and rear-ended Jeff into two firetrucks. He suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries that tragically led to his passing 4½ difficult years later.

Jeff’s graveside service of stories, songs, and praise was held on September 28, 2024, at the historic Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas, under the shade of giant oak trees, next to the majestic Fountain of Life. His friend, the Reverend Gary D. Hill of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, officiated.

Arrangements by Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX. (214)363-5401.