Edwin Joe Demaris

Edwin Joe DeMaris, formerly of Champaign, passed away at age 90 on Friday, January 15, 2010 after a brief illness in Edmonds, WA. He was born on May 31, 1919 in Walla Walla, WA. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Charlotte Swierk DeMaris; three children: Philip (Fran) DeMaris of Champaign, IL, Richard (Sarah) DeMaris of Valparaiso, IN, and Susan (Richard) Gifford of Edmonds, WA; four grandchildren: Stephanie, Alexander, Ben, and Laura; and one great-grandchild, Isaac. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Stella DeMaris and a brother, Harry DeMaris.Dr. DeMaris took his education at Whitman College (B.A. 1941), the University of Montana (M.A. 1949), and the University of Illinois (Ph.D. 1955). He qualified as a C.P.A. while working at White and Currie in Seattle from 1943 to 1947. Dr. DeMaris taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana from 1955 to 1975 and served both as Head of the Department of Accounting and as Director of Graduate Studies in the College of Commerce and Business Administration. After leaving Illinois he served as Chairman of the Department of Accounting at the University of North Texas in Denton until 1985; during that time he was instrumental in founding the Institute of Petroleum Accounting. He then served for one year as professor of accounting for Troy State University in England, Germany, and Italy, and retired in 1988. His professional interest in international accounting led to consulting appointments in Turkey and Tunisia in the 1960s. He hosted many visiting professors from abroad at both Illinois and North Texas.He was active in church congregations in Champaign, IL (First Presbyterian), Denton, TX (St. Andrew Presbyterian), and Shoreline, WA (Calvin Presbyterian). His love of travel and classical music, especially opera, spanned his entire life.A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Shoreline, WA. Recn to follow.