John Paul Dudenhefer, who from 1970 to 2000 was an English instructor and administrator at State Technical Institute at Memphis , died on Sunday, March 13, at his home in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 84 years old. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was a teenage taxidermist who used to show movies outside to his friends. He graduated from Loyola University New Orleans (BA), Tulane University (MA), and the University of Mississippi ( EdD ). After teaching at Beauregard High School in St. Bernard Parish, he moved his wife and four children to Memphis to take the job at State Tech. In 2000 he and his wife Gaynell retired and lived for twenty years in a ranch house they built near Hardy, Arkansas. He was active in Toastmasters and had worked up a brilliant impersonation of the Cajun cook Justin Wilson. He enjoyed photography, decoupage, and classic country from the 1970s, especially Hank Williams Jr., Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard. He is preceded in death by his father, John Paul Dudenhefer, and his mother, Gladys Ellen Deffes , both of New Orleans. He is survived by his wife of 63 years , Gaynell ; his four children — Paul, Paulette ("Mimi"; husband Terry Fink) , David (wife Jen) , and Diane; six grandchildren — Haley (husband Jerrod Gray) , Taylor, Logan, Hannah, Kelcie , and Erin; one great-grandchild (Nolan) ; and many nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren . In lieu of flowers, please make a d onation to St. Jude Children's R esearch Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Project.