Robert William Wiley
April 18, 1941 - July 29, 2024
Dr. Robert William "Bob" Wiley, age 83 of Monticello, AR, passed away at home on Monday, July 29, 2024. He was born April 18, 1941, in Higginsville, MO to the late James Clarence Wiley, Sr. and Virginia Lee Wertz Wiley. He was a retired University of Arkansas at Monticello Professor of Biology and Director of the Turner Neal Museum of Natural History. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, James C. "Jim" Wiley, Jr.
He graduated from Higginsville High School (1959), earned his B.S at Central Missouri State College (1963), his M.S. at Fort Hays Kansas State College (1967) and his Ph.D. at Texas Tech University (1972). He served in the Army Reserve from 1963 - 1969. He worked at UAM for 30 years, teaching 18 different courses in biology, wildlife management and environmental science. He was a nominee for Alpha Chi Teacher of the Year six times and won the award in 1993 and 1995. He was nominated twice for both the UAM Human Relations Award and the Faculty Excellence Award. He was awarded the Gold Faculty Excellence award in 1996. He was co-founder of the Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society and served as co-advisor of the Biology Club. He served as Treasurer of the Arkansas Academy of Science for 10 years, Secretary-Treasurer of the Arkansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society for one year and a six-month stent as Acting Head of the Department of Biology, UAM. He touched thousands of lives, some who became our present doctors, nurses, wildlife agents, teachers and researchers.
His hobbies included building muzzleloading firearms and accoutrements, competitive target shooting, primitive camping, early American history, general aviation, constructing home-built aircraft and genealogy. He was a long-time member of the National Rifle Association, Arkansas Muzzle Loading Association, Jefferson County Gun Club and Cowboy Action Division of the Mountain Valley Sportsman's Association. He learned to love shooting sports at age six, when his dad gave him his first gun. He participated in matches and rendezvous across the nation, loving every minute of it.
He is survived by his wife of 55 yeas, Suzanne Fowler Wiley of Monticello, AR; three brothers, Bill Wiley of Raymore, MO, John Wiley of Marion, KS and Tom Wiley of Higginsville, MO; two step sons, Jimmy Wayne Fowler of Rogers, AR and James Edward Gaston of Little Rock, AR; four grandchildren, Shyenne Fowler Clark of Siloam Springs, AR, Michael Fowler of Yuma, AZ, Margot Peter of Prescott, AZ and Phillip Gaston of Crested Butte, CO; and two great grandchildren, Lennox Fowler and Gabriel Clark.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Chapel in Monticello, AR. After the service, a reception for friends and family will be held in the Turner Neal Museum of Natural History on the UAM campus. In his honor, donations may be made to the Robert W. Wiley Scholarship Fund at UAM by calling or sending to: University of AR at Monticello, Office of Advancement, Roxanne Smith, PO Box 3520, Monticello, AR 71656
A grave side service will be held at 2:00 PM on September 7, 2024, at the City Cemetery in Higginsville, MO. A reception will follow.
Obituary Provided By:
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