Scott Dinsmore Hearsy

HEARSEY, SCOTT DINSMORE, 60, passed away on Saturday, July 27 surrounded by family and friends at his side. Scott was a wildlife enthusiast who worked with reptiles and birds throughout his life. As a young child he collected snakes and iguanas, and his interest in wildlife expanded to all reptiles as well as birds. He worked at The Miami Serpentarium, the Shed, Pet Farm, Inc., Hog Town Herp, Last Chance Farm and Zoological Imports caring for the many animals. Scott had a sense of humor that made many laugh and others cringe. He was a man of integrity who showed compassion to animals. He was extremely knowledgeable about all forms of wildlife and he shared his knowledge with others around the world. In the more recent years, Scott developed a love for cacti and succulents. He had hundreds at his home that he tended to daily. Scott was preceded in death by his father, Richard Whitten Hearsey. He will be missed by his family, including his mother, Nancy Hearsey of Miami, brother Jeff Hearsey and his wife Jaime of Nashville, Tennessee, sister Kathy Hearsey and her partner Lauren Stevens of Durham, North Carolina, his nieces, Alex and Katie Hearsey, as well as his close friends and the hundreds of fellow wildlife enthusiasts whose lives he touched throughout his 40 plus years working with animals. His family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of your choice or the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK). Scott supported the mission of USARK, advocating for the conservation, responsible ownership and trade of reptiles and amphibians. A memorial has been set up on the USARK website at www.usark.org. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, August 10, 2013 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 14260 Old Cutler Rd., Palmetto Bay, Florida, 33158. A reception will be held following the service at a location to be announced.