Dr. E.L. Richards

Dr. Edward Leon Richards, 81, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, died Saturday, October 17, 2009, in St. Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Leon was born in Latuda, Utah. He joined the Marine Corps during the Korean War and received a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Kansas. He served on the faculty of ASU for 31 years. He had the distinction of discovering a new species of coneflower in Mexico and of studying in the rain forests of Costa Rica. Even after retirement, Leon volunteered his summers for conservation efforts at Yellowstone National Park.

Survivors include his wife Beverley Richards of Jonesboro, his brother Sam Richards of Cedar Park, Texas, his children: Brady, Camilla, and Sarah, and four grandchildren: Valora, Alex, Ashton, and Benjamin. Leon will be remembered for his easy smile and lively sense of humor.

A memorial service will be held Monday afternoon at 4:00 in Emerson Memorial Chapel.

For those wishing to leave lasting memorials, the family requests you consider the National Park Foundation, at www.nationalparks.org.