Two members of the Beta Omicron Chapter Founders Generation Group have passed to Chapter Eternal, both after battles with cancer.

Among the first members of Pi Kappa Phi at Northwestern State University, John D. Mize and Mickey Frazier hold important places in chapter history, especially as both men remained actively involved with the fraternity throughout their post-collegiate lives.

John D. Mize, 73, died Friday, June 15, 2012, at the Belmond, Iowa Medical Center. The son of John and Louila (Morgan) Mize, John D. Mize was born Jan. 2, 1939, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He grew up in there, graduating from Fair Park High School and later received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California.

John was united in marriage to Joan Lee Edwards on March 14, 1964, in Fort Dodge. They were blessed with two children, a son, Arthur Thomas, and daughter, Laura Elizabeth.

John served in the United States Air Force for 22 years. His military career began during the Vietnam era in New Orleans, La., on Sept. 28, 1962, and continued until he was honorably discharged with the rank of major on July 31, 1984, at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. John was a B-52 bomber pilot during the war and successfully flew nearly 300 missions in the combat areas. John and his crew’s amazing story was featured in Air Force Magazine in an article titled “The Seventh Man.” Among his decorations are the Air Force Cross (the first Strategic Air Command person so honored), the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 15 clusters and the Purple.

Following his retirement from the military, John was an agent with Principal Life Insurance in Rapid City, South Dakota, a B-52 flight simulator instructor at Wurtsmith AFB in Oscoda, Mich., and he also worked for Eaton Corporation in Belmond, for 10 years prior to retiring.

Mize joined the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity as a student in March 1960 along with a quite large pledge class. He remained involved with the chapter throughout his adult life. John and Joan attended alumni reunions and the Founders Alumni Group gathering at Homecoming in 2008 and 2010.

John was very active in civic life as leader of the Boy Scouts of America and was a Vigil Member of the Order of the Arrow. He was active in the community and his church. He served on the Trinity Lutheran Church council, sang in the choir, ran the sound system and served on the Belmond Community Apartments Board. He served the community as a Care Car Driver and made deliveries for the Belmond Food Pantry and Meals on Wheels.

John and Joan enjoyed raising their two children, often spending time camping and fishing. After retiring, the couple spent time traveling and John especially loved spending time with his granddaughter Avery. John will be remembered a dignified gentleman, who cared deeply for his family and fellow man. His friendly manner, warm smile, twinkling eyes, wit and character, will be missed by all who were privileged to know him.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 48 years, Joan Mize, Belmond, son Arthur Mize, Ferndale, Michigan, daughter, Laura Mize and granddaughter Avery Mize, both of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and a sister Sandra (Don) Dunivan, Shreveport, Louisiana, and other extended family and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 20, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 304 Third Ave. N.E., in Belmond. Carolyn Pflibsen, AIM, will be officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Memorials in John’s name may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Belmond Medical Center Auxiliary, ELCA World Hunger, or donor’s own choice.

Joseph Michael (Mickey) Frazier, 73, passed away Friday, June 15, 2012 in Winnfield, Louisiana surrounded by family after a battle with cancer.

He was born in 1939 in El Dorado, Arkansas to the late Louise (O’Laughlin) and Elmo Frazier. He was a graduate of Winnfield Senior High School and Northwestern State University where he was a fifty year member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Mickey joined Beta Omicron Chapter in November, 1958. He was a long time member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. He enjoyed spending time with his family and his wife in their other home in the North Georgia Mountains where they spent many enjoyable and memorable times.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of over fifty years, Marlene (White) Frazier; his son Joseph Michael (Jay) Frazier II and wife Cheryl of Winnfield; his daughter Michelle Frazier Faust and husband Errol of Albany, Louisiana; four grandsons. Justin and Jarred Culbertson of Winnfield, and Hunter Michael and Garrett Michael Freeman of Albany, Louisiana; brother-in-law Robert White and wife Carmen, one niece, Wendy White, and nephew Robert White. Jr, all of Ft. Meyers, Florida. Loving cousins include A.B. White and wife Shirley of Winnfield; Ralph and Joe Roberson of El Dorado, Mike Roberson and wife Emily, Wilfred Pace and wife Myrna of Tennessee; Lloyd Mulina of California, Porter Mulina of Baton Rouge, Clara Olinde and husband Ray of Jarraeu, Louisiana and Robbin Mulina of Baton Rouge.

A service to honor the life of Joseph Michael (Mickey) Frazier will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 3:00 PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winnfield, Louisiana with Father Richard Taylor officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winnfield from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorials made to St. Paul’s Church in Winnfield, Louisiana.

Pi Kappa Phi Foundation Executive Director Tom Atwood said Mize and Frazier’s names will be included in the Chapter Eternal listing of an upcoming issue of the Star and Lamp Magazine and will be remembered with a moment of silence at Supreme Chapter in Washington, DC this August.