Sept. 8, 1932 �" Oct. 13, 2016.

Maurice "Mo" Herbert Frere was born September 8, 1932 to Jules & Eunice Frere in Sheridan, Wyoming. He was a graduate of Sheridan High School & Sheridan Junior College. Mo met the love of his life, Margaret Rutherford at the University of Wyoming in 1954. After serving in the U.S. Army, during the Korean Conflict, Mo & Margaret married in 1957. He received his BS & MS degrees in agronomy from the University of Wyoming & PHD in Soil Science from the University of Maryland. Mo & Margaret welcomed their first daughter, Ann in 1958 & then moved to Beltsville, Maryland to begin his career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

He was a visiting scientist in 1967 at the Agricultural University & the Institute for Biological & Chemical Research on Crops in Wageningen, The Netherlands where he began developing mathematical models of nutrient movement to plant roots. Dr. Frere's most significant research has been on evaluation of nutrient transport from agricultural watersheds. He received the Unit Award for Superior Service from the USDA for outstanding achievement in organizing & developing an innovative nonpoint source pollution model, Chemical Runoff Erosion Agriculture Management System (CREAMS) which has been in use since the 1970s.

Dr. Frere has held ARS leadership positions in Oklahoma and Louisiana as well as Director of the Southern Piedmont Conservation Research Center in Watkinsville, GA. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy & the Soil & Water Conservation Society. Dr. Frere retired from ARS in 1995 with the respect and admiration from his colleagues & staff from around the U.S & world. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church for 31 years & was active as a lector, Eucharistic minister & member of the Parish Council.

He was a generous and loving husband & father of four children & always supported their goals & dreams. He volunteered to be a coach for his kid's sports & a science judge for multiple science fairs.

Mo is predeceased by his daughter, Donna Lynn Frere; brother, Russell Frere; & parents, Jules & Eunice Frere.

He is survived by wife of 59 years, Margaret Frere; his sister, Margaret Ann Urbigkit (John); brother, Bill Frere; daughter, Ann West (Randy); son, James Frere (Leigh) & son, Bill Frere (Kelly). He is also survived by eight grandkids.

The family will receive friends Sunday, October 16 from 4-6 p.m. at Bernstein Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 17 at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 134 Prince Ave., Athens. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park.

Bernstein Funeral Home & Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.