Ray Stotler

Raymond E. Stotler, 73, of Makanda, passed away at 4:30 p.m., December 4, 2013 at his residence with his loving wife, sister and brother-in-law, at his side. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church, Carbondale, with Pastor Alan Rhein officiating. Memorials to Hospice of Southern Illinois or to the Foundation for Barnes Jewish Hospital for the Cancer Frontier Fund are the preferred form of remembrance and will be accepted by the funeral home. Ray was born on March 30, 1940 to Charles Raymond and Margie Juanita Stotler in Peoria. He married Barbara J. Crandall on July 28, 1969, in Munich Germany. She survives. Other survivors include a sister and brother-in-law, Bettie Sue and Joseph Spradling of Cassville, MO; a brother-in-law and his wife, Dennis and Elaine Crandall of Warren, PA; four nephews, Charles Lagon, Robert and Nina Lagon, John and Lisa Crandall, Jacob Mummert; four nieces, Kimberlea and Randy Dorman, Alicia Crandall, Carrie and Chad Mummert, Joy Crandall-McMonigal, and several great nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Sister Mary Catherine and a niece, Maria Lagon. His collegiate training began in his home state of Illinois, where, after obtaining a B.S. in Biology education at Western Illinois University (1962), he pursued graduate work in Botany at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, receiving his Master's degree in 1964. While at Southern, he was under the guidance of noted taxonomist, Dr. Robert Mohlenbrock. In 1968, Ray received his PhD from the University of Cincinnati. He served one year in a post doctoral position at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Ray moved to Carbondale in August 1969 as an assistant professor in the Botany Department, now the Department of Plant Biology. He retired from that department in September 2001 after 32 years as a Professor and was still actively working on various research projects at the university as a Professor Emeritus. He was also a Research Associate of the Missouri Botanical Garden for more than 25 years. His memberships include, the Botanical Society of America; the American Bryological and Lichenological Society, in which he served as Director of the Hepatic Exchange and member of the Executive Council for over 20 years; the British Bryological Society; the International Association of Bryology; the International Association of Plant Taxonomists; and the American Association of Plant Taxonomists. He is a past member of the International Committee of Botanical Nomenclature, and was elected as a Fellow of the Linnaean Society in 1996. One of his former students summed his talents by stating: 'He was a truly a 'people professor' with a knack for engaging and educating his students at their level, while challenging them to perform at their highest potential. His skill and enthusiasm in the field were inspiring...I will always hear his gentle voice, see his goofy smile and feel warmth in my heart.' Ray will be greatly missed by his family, many friends and professional colleagues.



Service:



11:00 A.M Wednesday, December 11, 2013



First Untied Methodist Church 214 W. Main St. Carbondale, IL 62901