Dr. CP Gause memorial shines light on bright life

“A teacher,” “a friend,” “an advocate,” and “a joy to be around.”

All are the words used to describe Charles Phillip Gause who passed away Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Many gathered to celebrate the life of the former chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling by sharing stories and memories of those close to him at a memorial held at Rose Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

The general sentiment many expressed at the memorial was summarized by a long-time coworker and friend, Tamieka Morris, a proposal development coordinator at Southeast who said Gause was a man who “let his light shine” through a “vibrant personality and passion for life.”

Morris said she admired Gause’s work ethic and principles.

“He led by example, did the work, yet he challenged all of us by giving us work to do, too,” Morris said.

Duane Jones, a former student of Gause also said he saw Gause as a role model because he was “educated, confident, loud, funny and unapologetic.”

Jones also thought of Gause as a “personal cheerleader” who would be there for him and support him “when no one else was.”

Another speaker at the memorial was Paul Watkins, a colleague of Gause, who said he remembered Gause as a “force of personality” who brought “change, vision and transformation” to Southeast’s education departments.

Gause was not only a visionary, but also a bright spot in the day for those with whom he interacted.

Watkins recalled looking forward to four-hour car rides he would take with Gause to visit education conferences in Columbia, Missouri just because of the talks he would have with Gause on the way.

Director of Health Communication at Southeast Brooke Clubbs credited Gause with helping her realize she could set her goals as high as she wanted.

“He was a man who had a gift to make you believe in yourself because he believed in you,” Clubbs said.