Stephen C Caples

Stephen C. Caples was born July 10, 1948 in West Monroe, LA to Carnie and Laura Caples.  He attended West Monroe High School, where he played football as a defensive back.  He often reminisced that he played against some future NFL quarterbacks including Terry Bradshaw and Joe Ferguson.  He also laughed that he was certainly no match for them. 

Shortly after high school Steve enlisted in the United State Air Force and received training to be a Vietnamese language specialist.  In spite of his extensive training in Vietnamese, Steve managed to spend the Vietnam war guarding the Canadian border.  He would often joke, that Canada never invaded during his watch.  During his military service he also studied at Lake Superior State University where he earned his first degree - a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.  After his honorable discharge from the military, Steve worked as an economist in the oil industry in Shreveport and Houston before leaving to pursue further academic challenges.  He attended Louisiana Tech University where he received his next degree, an MBA. This allowed Steve to join the faculty at Lamar University as an Instructor in the Business School.  His years at Lamar ended when he left to begin work on a Ph.D. in Finance at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).  While pursuing this degree, he taught classes at both UTA and TCU.  In the final year of writing the dissertation for his doctorate, Steve moved to teach finance at Sam Houston State University.  “Dr.” Caples then returned to Lamar University as an Assistant Professor of Finance.  In 1987, Steve made his last career move as he joined the College of Business at McNeese State University.  Professor Steve Caples taught his last class just days before his passing. 

Steve’s title as a father was his greatest joy. His daughters, Leslie, Erin, Courtney, and Bailey and his granddaughter Chloe brought endless happiness into his life.  He was deeply involved in their lives, ensuring they were taken care of.  Steve often joked that he wouldn’t have known what to do with a son.  He said that he didn’t know what they even ate, since he only had girls.  Being the father of only girls meant that Steve played princess games and had his fingernails and toenails painted from time to time.  Anything for his daughters!  He danced with them, he laughed with them, he protected and provided for them. His girls will surely miss him every day of their lives.

Steve was a truly wonderful person with an amazing personality.  Steve had a way of striking up a conversation with a stranger standing in a checkout line at a grocery store, or sitting in a coffee shop, or riding a bus from a hotel to an Orlando amusement park.  In a matter of minutes, this person would have magically transformed from a stranger into a friend.

Steve loved spending time with his friends - traveling, playing golf, or sitting in his man-cave having a cigar.  Steve and his closest friends often attended The Cigar Club, enjoying good conversation while taking a philosophical approach to determining which college football team would be the champion in an upcoming season.  Discussions of an upcoming NFL season were also very popular, but these discussions were much simpler for Steve.  He would listen as others expressed their opinions about which teams would be contenders, but he knew the champion would be his beloved Dallas Cowboys.

He was welcomed into Heaven by his parents, and daughter Courtney Caples.

Those left to cherish his memory are his three daughters, Leslie Caples, Erin Caples, and Bailey Caples; a granddaughter, Chloe LeBoeuf; a brother, Galen Caples and wife Judy of Calhoun, LA; a sister, Sharon Duprey and husband Danny of Calhoun, LA; and a multitude of friends.

The family will welcome friends on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at University Baptist Church beginning at 10am until time of service. A celebration of his life led by Pastor Weldon Bares will begin at 2pm. Cremation has been entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home following services.