Dr. Chester Levy, Jr. was born on April 13, 1925 in Port Arthur, Texas, to Chester Levy, Sr. and Frances Bowers Levy (who died in his infancy), and was raised by his parents Chester Levy, Sr. and Hilda Boudreaux Levy.  He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Thelma Levy Taylor, a brother, Leamer P. Levy, and a niece, Bishop Sarah Frances Taylor Davis.  He peacefully went home to be with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on Sunday, April 24, 2016.

He was the valedictorian of his 1944 graduating class at Lincoln High School, and was drafted in the U.S. Army, graduating from the U.S. Army School of Engineering, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, that same year.  After his tour of duty in Germany and France in 1946, he returned home and briefly worked at the Gulf Oil Company, while waiting for acceptance at Wiley College.  He graduated with highest honors from Wiley in 1949, achieving a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, and was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., for 68 years.

His love of teaching and learning motivated him to return to his former high school as a Chemistry teacher and eventual Department Head.  Quickly establishing himself as a “no-nonsense” educator who genuinely cared about his students, he was promoted to Assistant Principal at Stephen F. Austin High School in Port Arthur, Texas in 1969, where he demonstrated his outstanding leadership skills, and became the first black principal of Stephen F. Austin High School in 1980, retiring in 1987.

Dr. Levy’s additional educational accomplishments include:

• Master of Education – Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas – May, 1955

• Shell Merit Chemistry Fellow – Stanford university, Norman Oklahoma

• Summer Chemistry Symposiums – University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

• Completion of requirements for Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin

• Doctor of Education, Curriculum and Instruction Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas – August, 1982

Community Involvement and Public Service

• Former Basileus – Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Port Arthur Graduate Chapter

• Former Board President – YMCA of Southeast Texas, Port Arthur, Texas

• Former Member, Board of Directors – Bob Hope Charter School/Hughen Center

• Former Member – The Salvation Army Advisory Board

• Former Member – Wiley College, Board of Trustees

• Former Commissioner and Chairman of the Board Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7 September 7, 1993 – December 31, 2011

Dr. Levy was a member of Christian Faith Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and member of the male chorus.

An avid reader, traveler, and public speaker, he leaves to cherish his memories; his loving and devoted wife of 42 years, Mrs. Rita P. Levy; daughter, Dr. Benteˋ L. Gage-Brown (Jay) of Humble, Texas; son, Roger Craig Simon; brother, Roy B. Levy (Delores); sister, Esther Dugay all of Port Arthur, Texas; sister-in-law, Lorita Jean Baptiste of Cade, Louisiana; 3 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Christian Faith Missionary Baptist Church, 1919 Jefferson Drive, Port Arthur, TX.  A visitation is scheduled from 9:00 A.M. until service time.  Burial will follow in Johnson Memorial Park, 3900 Twin City Highway, Groves, Texas.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gabriel Funeral Home.

Special thanks to doctors and nurses of Health South Rehabilitation Center of Beaumont, Mid-Jefferson Extended Care Hospital, Cypress Glen Nursing and Rehabilitation Convalescent Home, Southeast Texas Medical Center, and St. Mary’s Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bob Hope Charter School/Hughen Center, the Bishop Sarah Davis Foundation, Wiley College, and Christian Faith Missionary Baptist Church.