Raymond Carl Highsmith

Dr. Raymond Carl Highsmith, 72, died Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at his home in Oxford, Miss. The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 12, 2013, at Waller Funeral Home in Oxford, Miss., with Dr. Alice Clark officiating. Visitation was held from 12:30-2 p.m. the day of service. Burial will take place at a later date in Woodlawn Cemetery in Orlando, Fla.
Dr. Highsmith was born in Estate Center, Iowa, to the late Lewis Carl and Ruth Mary Collins Highsmith. He earned his Bachelor's of Arts degree in zoology from the University of Iowa and a doctorate in marine biology from the University of Washington. He was a former professor of marine biology and a researcher at the University of Alaska Fairbanks for 20 years; executive director, National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology; director, University of Mississippi Field Station and Center for Water and Wetlands Resources; and consortium director, Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf of Mexico (ECOGIG). He was a member of the Iowa Hawkeyes in Memphis, Tenn. An area of his life in which he never wavered or compromised was his honesty. He was an advocate for those treated unfairly. He believed all races and ethnicities should be treated fairly.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Luz ""Lucy"" Highsmith, of Oxford, Miss.; two daughters, Terry Highsmith and Dawn Ferguson, both of Hailey, Idaho; three sons, Jun Ueki, of Japan, Jeanpierre Saldarriaga, of Orlando, Fla., and Bryant Saldarriaga, of Fairbanks; seven grandchildren; and a special niece, Dayni Padilla, of Texas.
Memorial contributions may be made in Dr. Highsmith's memory to the American Cancer Society, 1800 West Main Street, Tupelo, Miss. 38801.
For more information or to sign an online guestbook, visit our website www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.