John Wesley ("Wes") Tunnell, Jr., 73, passed away on July 14, 2018. He wanted family, friends, and colleagues to know that he just received the ultimate upgrade into God's Heavenly Kingdom. Wes was born on 2 May 1945 to John W. Tunnell, M.D. and Rosalie Newman Tunnell, M.D. in Biloxi, Mississippi, while his father, who was from Gregory, Texas, was serving in the U.S. Army Air Force at Keesler Field during WW II. Wes was raised in Taft, Texas, and received his B.S. (1967) and M.S. (1969) degrees in Biology from Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville), and his Ph.D. in Biology (1974) from Texas A&M University. He served in the U.S Army for two years (1969-71) at Fort Baker, California.

Wes married his childhood sweetheart Kathryn (Kathy) Lea Aldridge on 4 June 1966, and they had three children: Stephanie Patterson (Steve) of Forney, Jace Wesley Tunnell (Kathryn) of Corpus Christi, and James William Tunnell (Gerri) of Austin. Wes and Kathy had five grandchildren: Chelsea (Stephanie), Jack and Parker (Jace), and Wesley and William (James). Annual family gatherings each summer and during the holidays were special times for all.

Tunnell started (1974) and ended (2018) his career at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC), where he was Professor of Biology in the Life Sciences Department and Endowed Chair of Biodiversity and Conservation Science at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. Tunnell was a marine ecologist and biologist focusing primarily on coastal and coral reef ecosystems. Although he did most of his field research in Texas and Mexico, he traveled extensively for engagement and presentation in over 35 countries.

Tunnell advised or co-advised 71 M.S. students, 7 Ph.D. students, and 4 post-doctoral research associates. For 32 years, he taught a Coral Reef Ecology class, taking students on two-week field trips to Veracruz or the Mexican Caribbean as part of an international teaching and research program. This was one of 18 classes he taught over the course of his career.

Tunnell published 114 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 76 technical reports, 7 books, and received 154 research grants and contracts worth more than $20 million. He was also editor of two book series for Texas A&M University Press. He received numerous awards and served on many professional and community service boards and councils.

His parents, mentioned above, preceded him in death, and his wife and all of his children and grandchildren, also mentioned above, survive him.