The following obituary appeared today in _The Crescent-News_, Defiance, 
Ohio, and will be of interest to members of the Mark Twain
community. Dr. LeMaster was co-editor with James D. Wilson of _The Mark 
Twain Encyclopedia_ published by Garland in 1993.

Jimmie 'J.R' LeMaster

WACO, Texas -- Jimmie (J.R.) Ray LeMaster, Waco, died Sunday, June 29, 2014,
at his residence.

He was born in Pike County, Ohio, to Dennis Samuel and Helen Algina (Smith)
LeMaster on March 29, 1934. He attended Camp Creek Township Elementary
School before moving to Washington Court House, Ohio, where he attended
junior high and high school, moving to New Boston, Ohio,in his final year.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951, and served four years. Upon being
discharged from the Navy, LeMaster moved to Defiance, Ohio, where he worked
in an iron foundry and attended classes at Defiance College.

Upon graduation, he taught in local high schools before returning to his
alma mater to teach in 1962, having completed a master of arts degree at
Bowling Green State University. While working at Defiance College, he
received his PhD degree from Bowling Green in 1970. He taught at Defiance
College for 15 years before moving his family to Waco to teach at Baylor
University in 1977. When he retired from Baylor in 2006, he had taught for
47 years, including two years in Beijing, People's Republic of China.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wanda; his son, Lon;
brother, Dennis and his wife, Karin; and half brother Tom McDowell.

He is survived by his two daughters, Lisa and DeNae, as well as his brother,
Marvin and his wife, Shirley; half brother, Richard McDowell and his wife,
Alice; sister-in-law, Patsy McDowell; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Wanda May LeMaster
Service Award, c/o Michele Tinker, Defiance College, 701 Clinton St.,
Defiance, Ohio 43512; email address, [log in to unmask]; phone,
419-783-2303.