David C. Berkshire1936-2016David C. Berkshire, passed away on October 13, 2016 at Kindred Hospital in Houston, Texas. He was born on August 8, 1936 in Houston, Texas to John Newton Berkshire and Pamela Clark Berkshire.David grew up in Houston, Texas and graduated from Lamar High School in 1954. He attended Rice University and Texas A&M where he studied chemistry. At Texas A&M University David worked in the Oceanography Department and participated in a scientific expedition on the research vessel the Altanin in Antarctica. He later worked for 29 years at the Shell Bellaire Research Center as research technician and chemist. David was an avid reader of science books and had a special interest in the propagation and cultivation of native Texas plants. He served as the president of the Big Thicket Association for three years in the 1990s. David volunteered for Harris County Precinct 4's Mercer Botanic Gardens since 1995. He served as the volunteer chairman of the botanic gardens' Native Plant Propagation Team since 1996 and was awarded the coveted Golden Trowel Award in 1997. In 1998, he graduated from Mercer Botanic Gardens' Harris County Master Gardener program. He was an active member of many environmental and social justice organizations. David's sense of wonder was an inspiration to all who knew him.A memorial gathering will be held at 12 noon on Wednesday, October 26 at Mercer Botanic Gardens' Post Oak Pavilion located at the picnic area on the arboretum side/the west side of 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, TX 77338. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mercer Botanic Gardens' native plant conservation program at The Mercer Society, 22306 Aldine Westfield Rd., Humble, TX 77338.