William 'Bill' E. Hopkins

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Bill Hopkins, 66, of Bend, Ore., passed away of natural causes at his home on Sept. 3, 2008.

Born Jan. 2, 1942, in Eldorado, to H.T. "Tom" and Rachel (Harrison) Hopkins, Bill graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in June 1968 with a master's in botany and earned a Ph.D. in plant ecology from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1971.

Bill married Christine Ott of Addy, Wash., on June 6, 1968, in Carbondale; they divorced in 1995. He married "Billie" McNiel, in April 1996, who preceded him in death on July 8, 2007.

Bill was employed by the USDA- Forest Service as Area IV-ecologist for 33 years, working on the Winema, Fremont, Ochoco and Deschutes national forests to study and instruct in long-term forest conservation and productivity according to indicator species and natural plant associations.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, handball, racquetball and tennis. Bill was an avid Oregon State University "Beaver Believer" and member of the local Model-A car club. He will also be remembered for his deep love of family and friends, stories, smile, and good-natured, but often intense banter.

Bill is survived by his first wife and their two sons Christine of Bend, Ore.; son and daughter-in-law, Karl and Dawn Hopkins; and granddaughter, Margaret E. of South Bend, Ind., son and daughter-in-law, Bret and Jennifer Hopkins and grandsons Nathan T. and Ethan R. of Ilwaco, Wash.; a brother and sister-in-law, H.T. (Tom) and Betty Hopkins Jr. of Eldorado and a sister and brother-in-law, Eva Lee and Roy DeLancy of Drumwright, Okla.; and numerous nephews and a niece.

A service was held at his home in Bend, Ore., on Sept. 12, 2008. Memorial contributions in his honor may be made toward Central Oregon or Klamath Basin projects of The Nature Conservancy, 832 SE 14th Ave., Portland, Ore. 97214.