Maurice "Maury" L. Ward was 93 years old when he died November 27, 2010, at home while living with his daughter in California.

He was born August 25, 1917, in Rock Falls, IL, to Cora Elizabeth Sturtz Ward and Clarence Albert Ward. He was the youngest and last survivor of four boys, Harold, Elwyn, and Delos. Maury was raised on his family's farm in the Sterling/Rock Falls area of Illinois, attended a one room school house until 8th grade and achieved Eagle Scout. He graduated from Carthage College and then completed his PhD in organic chemistry at the University of Illinois.

Maury worked for thirty-five years with the E. I. DuPont de Nemours Company in research and development and marketing positions in various departments. Those jobs led him and his family to Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Iowa, and Delaware.

Upon retirement, Maury moved to Alaska where he spent twenty years in areas throughout the state, enjoying the people, scientific research, and the natural environment. After leaving Alaska, Maury lived in Portal, Arizona, for the last ten years before moving to California.

Maury was intensely interested and extensively self-taught in the areas of ornithology, botany, and other aspects of natural history. He was also an avid and accomplished bridge player. In his earlier life he greatly enjoyed table tennis, golf, tennis, square dancing, and hunting. He opened his home to numerous foreign exchange students and from that enjoyed later opportunities to visit them in their home countries.