Phoebe Allen Mathys, retired Professor Emeritus of Fine Art at Louisiana Tech University, died peacefully in her home surrounded by friends on May 1, 2016. Her death came after a courageous battle with cancer, and only three days prior to what would have been her 75^th birthday.Phoebe held the B.A. and M.A. degrees in Art Education from Louisiana Tech, plus had earned 36 hours beyond. She taught in the College of Liberal Arts Schools of Art and Architecture specializing in two-dimensional design, color theory, and advanced media and presentation techniques. Her paintings were included in over 150 juried and invitation exhibitions locally, regionally, and nationally. She received numerous honors and awards for her art as well as her teaching, including being asked to judge many exhibitions, and being published in several prestigious journals.A highlight in her career came when she was commissioned to create two 6-by-10 feet murals, acrylic on canvas, for the Friends of the Monroe Civic Center Theatre. The abstracts hang today in the theatre in the Monroe Civic Center complex, giving the general public an opportunity to view her work.She will be remembered not only as a Fine Artist in her own right, but also as a dedicated professor who taught Fine Art to countless students during her thirty-three year career at Louisiana Tech. She expanded their vision of the world by encouraging them to develop not only their talents, but also to see and embrace the beauty to be found in the world around them.Although much of her time was devoted to her students both during her active teaching career and after, Phoebe also shared her artistic talents and leadership ability with a variety of organizations. She was a member and past president of the Monroe Garden Club, and will be named recipient of the coveted Mildred O. Heard Award in recognition of excellence in floral design posthumously later this month at that club annual spring luncheon. In addition, she was a 50-year member of D.A.R, most recently active in the DArbonne Chapter. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter AZ, Potpourri Book Club, the Ouachita River Art Gallery, La Petite Maison Garden Club, and the Grand Destinations Travel Club.Phoebe was generous in sharing her artwork and her floral design skills with Northminster Church. A devoted servant, she chaired the Northminster Arts Committee at least twice, and worked tirelessly on the Flowers committee. She created stunning arrangements and helped coordinate art exhibits. She was influential in the redesign of the narthex so that paintings there would be more artfully and securely displayed.She was preceded in death by her late husband, Don Mathys, and her parents, J.C. and Sallie Allen of Farmerville, Louisiana. She is survived by stepdaughters Donna Mathys Bancks and her husband George, and Rebecca Mathys Warner and her husband Dane; an aunt, Mary Jane Ward, and her children Emmett Lee Ward, Lovie Ward Roppolo, Robert Ward, and Sallie Ward Kenney; cousins Anne Arrant and husband, Gerald; Kelly Farrar and wife, Tanya, and their son Patrick; Jeff Farrar and wife, Dyka, and their son, Jeffrey; Linda Kay Darnell; and Donna Kay Darnell and her friend, Jackie Rains; and her children — canine companions James Bond, a Boston terrier, and Bandit, a rescue dog.A special note of gratitude to Dr. Gregory R. Green and Dr. Barry Weinberger for their care; to longtime caregiver and companion, Margaret Conner; and to Jennifer Goodson, Leona Fletcher, and Deborah Singletary, the dedicated sitters who helped care for Mathys during her final confinement.Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, May 4th, at Northminster Church in Monroe. Conducting the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. will be Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy. Visitation will be from noon until 12:45. Interment will follow at Liberty Taylor cemetery at 3:00 p.m. under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes.Serving as pallbearers will be Karl Puljak, Brian Davis, John Dennison, Mil Bodron, Paul Craig, and Dusty Gibbs. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Les Guice, Charlie Heck, Dr. M.A. Bodron, Carrol Wayne Cochran, and Mike Raburn.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Louisiana Tech University College of Liberal Art School of Design through the Louisiana Tech University Foundation, P.O. Box 3183, Ruston, LA 71272 with memo reference for Phoebe Allen Mathys or www.latechalumni.org or Northminster Church.