Mr. Franklin Strause Hirst

SALISBURY—Franklin S. Hirst, 81, of Salisbury, died Monday August 3, 2009 at his home. Prior to moving to Salisbury, he and his late wife, Jean, lived in Stockton, MD and spent winters in Old Town, FL. Born in Mantua, NJ on January 5, 1928, he was the son of the late Howard and Etta Hirst. Frank was a self taught botanist who made many contributions to the field. He and his late brother Bob discovered the Hirst Panic Grass in South Jersey in 1959. Frank loved nature and the outdoors, and enjoyed farming, gardening, fishing, hunting, collecting Indian artifacts, and writing poetry. Prior to retirement, Frank was a master plumber, then a plumbing instructor. He also did work for The Nature Conservancy in Maryland and Delaware, as well as the MD and DE Natural Heritage Programs in locating rare, threatened, and endangered plant species. He is survived by two daughters: Donna (David) Massie, of Salisbury, and Lynda Evers, of Delmar; four grandchildren, Sgt. Jason Fehrer USMC of Prattville, AL, Kristen (William) Hinman, of Columbia, MD, Stephen Snow, of College Park, MD, and Jessica Evers, of Baltimore. He is also survived by 4 great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Jean, in 2007, as well as two brothers, Howard F. Hirst, Jr. and Robert Hirst. A memorial service will be held at Remson United Methodist Church on Sheephouse Road, near Pocomoke City, MD on Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 11:00 am. Memorial donations may be sent in Memory of Frank Hirst to The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey, Hirst Pond Preserve Fund, 200 Pottersville Rd., Chester, NJ 07930.