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1955
Kit
2016
Kit Wayne Wesler
February 27, 1955 — January 4, 2016
Dr. Kit Wayne Wesler, age 60, of Murray, Kentucky died at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, January 4, 2016.
Dr. Wesler was born in Washington, D.C. on February 27, 1955 to the late John E. Wesler and Ann (Nichols) Wesler. Dr. Wesler earned his B.A. in Anthropology from Washington University, St. Louis and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology/Archeology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He came to Murray State University in 1981 as staff archaeologist and in 1983 he was appointed as director of the University's Wickliffe Mounds Research Center. In 2004 he returned to the MSU main campus to teach and to continue his research. In 1985, Dr. Wesler spent a year in Nigeria as MSU's first Fulbright Scholar. In 2002 he became MSU's first repeat Fulbright Scholar when he spent a semester at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. Dr. Wesler conducted archaeological excavations and summer field schools each year in a variety of sites across Kentucky as well as in Missouri, Maryland, North Carolina, Jamaica, and Nigeria. Most recently, he spent a semester in Italy conducting research on medieval cathedrals and their parallels with Mississippian mound building cultures. Dr. Wesler authored three books and many dozens of journal articles and presented widely on a variety of topics. In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Wesler wrote fiction and poetry with multiple short stories and poems published. Dr. Wesler also served as a foster parent for the Humane Society of Calloway County, willingly adopting those cats who did not find other homes. He was a true Renaissance man and a deeply good human being.
Dr. Wesler is survived by his wife Renae Duncan of Murray, Kentucky to whom he married on August 11, 1995; and by one sister, Katie Adams and husband Bill of Severna Park, Maryland.
A memorial celebration will be held on Friday, January 8th, 4:00 – 6:00 at the Maple Center, 300 Maple Street, Murray, KY with a brief ceremony beginning at 5:00. Given that Dr. Wesler's idea of dressing up meant putting on black jeans instead of blue jeans, dress is casual.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the John E. and Ann N. Wesler Scholarship For Field Schools in Geosciences, 200 Heritage Hall, Murray, Kentucky 42071
Dr. Wesler was born in Washington, D.C. on February 27, 1955 to the late John E. Wesler and Ann (Nichols) Wesler. Dr. Wesler earned his B.A. in Anthropology from Washington University, St. Louis and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology/Archeology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He came to Murray State University in 1981 as staff archaeologist and in 1983 he was appointed as director of the University's Wickliffe Mounds Research Center. In 2004 he returned to the MSU main campus to teach and to continue his research. In 1985, Dr. Wesler spent a year in Nigeria as MSU's first Fulbright Scholar. In 2002 he became MSU's first repeat Fulbright Scholar when he spent a semester at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. Dr. Wesler conducted archaeological excavations and summer field schools each year in a variety of sites across Kentucky as well as in Missouri, Maryland, North Carolina, Jamaica, and Nigeria. Most recently, he spent a semester in Italy conducting research on medieval cathedrals and their parallels with Mississippian mound building cultures. Dr. Wesler authored three books and many dozens of journal articles and presented widely on a variety of topics. In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Wesler wrote fiction and poetry with multiple short stories and poems published. Dr. Wesler also served as a foster parent for the Humane Society of Calloway County, willingly adopting those cats who did not find other homes. He was a true Renaissance man and a deeply good human being.
Dr. Wesler is survived by his wife Renae Duncan of Murray, Kentucky to whom he married on August 11, 1995; and by one sister, Katie Adams and husband Bill of Severna Park, Maryland.
A memorial celebration will be held on Friday, January 8th, 4:00 – 6:00 at the Maple Center, 300 Maple Street, Murray, KY with a brief ceremony beginning at 5:00. Given that Dr. Wesler's idea of dressing up meant putting on black jeans instead of blue jeans, dress is casual.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the John E. and Ann N. Wesler Scholarship For Field Schools in Geosciences, 200 Heritage Hall, Murray, Kentucky 42071
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kit Wayne Wesler, please visit our flower store.
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