For many alumni, LeTourneau University is more than a place where degrees are earned. It is a place where lifelong friendships are formed, faith is strengthened, and unexpected connections begin. For Curt and Marli Fitchett, both members of the Class of 1997, those ties would quietly stretch across decades, shaping their lives long after graduation.
Where It All Began
“We met at LeTourneau. My best friend was dating Curt’s roommate at the time. I was her wingman and we went over to their room a couple times, and
we all got to know one another and become friends.” (Marli Fitchett, ’97). Although their time at LeTourneau placed them in similar circles and surrounded them with mutual friends, Curt and Marli’s lives eventually moved in different directions after graduation. Curt says, “We both graduated on the same day in May 1997 and then we went our separate ways.” Marli married another LeTourneau student, Benjamin Hickin, the last year of her undergraduate career and Curt eventually married Karen Ruth (Pitts) Fitchett over the years. They would see each other at weddings, funerals, and LeTourneau functions, but their occasional run-ins would eventually become something more.
Through Loss and Faith
They both would come to experience a season of unexpected loss. While on their separate journeys, Curt became a part of the Alumni Council for two years and ultimately landing a seat on the Board of Trustees in 2023. “It’s been super humbling to sit in a room full of the trustees and to see their commitment to the university and to who we are as a university — our faith and dedication to stick to biblical principles despite what’s going on in the world around us.” (Curt Fitchett, ’97). Marli and her late husband had five children before he passed early in their marriage. Curt’s late wife passed years later suddenly in 2024 from cancer. Though during this time of loss, the Lord kept both in them and give them joy and peace even during difficult times. “A woman at my late wife’s funeral said, ‘You'll find that joy can coexist with grief.’ I saw these moments of joy in the little things. Knowing that my late wife passed on to be with the Lord and that she got to pass peacefully in her own home gave me peace. Life is finite but for believers, we know this is not the end.” Marli added, “It could end quickly like it did for my late husband or you could have years and year. Either way, it doesn’t matter what happens if the Lord is in it. He’s doing something beautiful even when we don’t see it.” Little did they know that the Lord was working out something beautiful for them both that would bring a wonderful union and a lasting marriage.
A Beautiful Reunion
Years later, Marli and Curt would reconnect after the loss of their spouses. Their paths crossed again at an LETU alumni event in Georgia, one of the many gatherings that keeps graduates connected long after leaving campus. For Marli, the moment carried additional weight, as it came not long after the passing of her father, Bill Graff, a beloved professor who served at LeTourneau University for more than 40 years. (To learn more about Bill Graff’s life and legacy, click here.) Marli and Curt began to talk as friends again and soon it would blossom into a beautiful relationship. Throughout their lives, God was working behind the scenes, and their lives may not have gone as previously planned, but God’s plan is greater than ours. “As students, we’re constantly thinking of the big picture: what we’re
going to study, getting the degree, getting a job, and moving towards our goals. It’s a good thing to aim for, but more important than that are the people we encounter every day. Be grateful to the Lord for the people He’s paced in your life and the community that walks alongside of you. Having a good job and getting married is wonderful, but at the end of the day, it’s how you serve people and develop relationships with others and your relationship with the Lord that matter most.” (Marli Fitchett, ’97) Curt adds, “Whatever season you’re in, be present.” “The clock is going to run out on all of us sooner or later so be thankful where God has you.”
