Dr. Alfred Blackmer (1943-2006)
BLACKMER, CHAFFEE, MERRILL, SMITH, GILL, PARMENTIER
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 2/1/2006 at 07:20:32
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, January 31, 2006.
Memorial services for Dr. Alfred Merrill Blackmer, 62, of Jefferson will be 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at First United Methodist Church, 307 South Wilson Street, Jefferson. Following the memorial service, the family will visit with friends in the church fellowship hall.
Alfred Merrill Blackmer was the second son of Randolph Clayton Blackmer and Edna Merrill Chaffee Blackmer. He was born Dec. 11, 1943, in Fall River, Mass. and lived in Little Compton, R.I., until 1958 when he moved to Fabyan, Conn. There, his family operated a dairy farm with registered Guernseys. He graduated from high school in 1962 then attended Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts, receiving an Associate degree in Animal Sciences in 1964.
Fred married Dianne Rae Smith on Nov. 27, 1965. He enlisted in the United States Army in February of 1966. He graduated at the top of his class at food inspection school and was sent to the Presidio of San Francisco as a food inspector in the U.S. Army Veterinary Medical Service.
Fred returned to Massachusetts in January, 1969. At the University of Massachusetts, he completed his bachelor of science degree in animal science in 1971 and master of science degree in plant and soil science in 1973.
Fred moved to Ames in 1973 to enroll in the Ph.D. program at Iowa State University. There, he received a Ph.D. in soil microbiology and Biochemistry in 1977. He began his career in soils research at Iowa State University and taught graduate courses in soil-plant relationships and advanced soil fertility. He maintained an active field research program with primary focus on nitrogen management. He advised 17 masters and 19 Ph.D. students from eight countries as well as numerous international visiting scientists. His lifetime goal was to help farmers and he worked directly with hundreds of farmers throughout Iowa. He has more than 350 publications and has received 14 professional awards. He also traveled widely, presenting at many international universities and conferences.
Dr. Blackmer died at his home on Jan. 28. He is survived by his wife, Dianne of Jefferson; son Tracy and his wife Doreen of Madrid; daughter Julie of Jefferson, and daughter Darcy Gill and her husband Bryan of Kirkwood, Mo.; and four grandchildren, Jessica and Cheryl Blackmer of Madrid, and Robyn and David Gill of Kirkwood, Mo. Also surviving are his parents, Randolph and Edna Blackmer of Orange Park, Fla.; two brothers, Randolph "Blackie" Blackmer of North Grosvenor Dale, Conn., and Paul Blackmer of Bakersfield, Calif.; and one sister, Rachel Parmentier of Gettysburg, Penn.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that tributes be sent to the Fred Blackmer Agriculture Scholarship, c/o JSCS Foundation, Home State Bank, 115 State St., Jefferson, IA 50129.
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