Richard Holmes Hevly was born July 26, 1934 in Everett, Wash., and passed away Oct. 31, 2008 in Flagstaff, Ariz. He was the son of the late Joseph Chester Hevly and Gladys Winifred Beckman Hevly. He grew up on the family farm in Silvana, Wash. located on the Stillaguamish River and developed a strong interest in plants and the countryside.  He learned how to catch fish with his bare hands, how to canoe and at his mother’s side learned a lot about growing things.  After high school graduation, he was able to join a group of UW students on a summer-long Botany field trip touring all the Western states.  This cemented his professional focus on Botany.  Later, he was able to work some summers in Flagstaff at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

 He graduated from the University of Washington, and then earned a B.S. & Ph.D degree in Botany from the University of Arizona. He taught for one year each at Wisconsin State University — Superior, and Humboldt State College – Arcata, Calif.

In 1966 he was hired at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff where he was a Botany Professor for 33 years.  His arrival at NAU in 1966 corresponded with a large increase in the Biology faculty and the change in NAU to University status. Dick had strong research interests in Palynology and participated with others in interdisciplinary research especially with Archaeologists, Geologists and Anthropologists, mainly on the Colorado Plateau.  A recently published effort produced a book with Andrew Wallace, a Western History professor, as primary author.

Survivors include his wife of 17 years, Linda Sharp Cooper, sons Brian Hevly (Robbie) of Fox Island, Wash.; Kevin Hevly of Lynnwood, Wash.; and Scott Hevly (Lohti) of Marysville, Wash.; two grand daughters; two step-sons, Jim Cooper (Shauna) of Chandler, AZ, and Rick Cooper (Michele) of Beaverton, Ore.

He is also survived by the mother of his sons and former wife, Charlene Fagan, Gig Harbor, Wash.

A get-together for family and close friends will be held this weekend and he will be buried in the Valley View Cemetery of Peace Lutheran Church in Silvana, Wash. at a later date.

Donations in his name can be made to the NAU Biological Science Department and the Arboretum at Flagstaff 4001 S Woody Mountain Road, Flagstaff, Az. 86001-8775.

His intelligent, accepting spirit and loving humor will be missed by all who knew him.

 Condolences can be sent to www.norvelowensmortuary.com.