Ernest D. Ables

Ernest D. Ables, known affectionately as Ernie, passed away on March 7, 2026, at the age of 92. Born on January 13, 1934, in Hugo, Oklahoma, to Annie and Ernest Ables, he grew up on the family farm in the Shoat Springs community southeast of Hugo. There, he developed a strong work ethic through harvesting peanuts, picking cucumbers and tomatoes, and baling hay. After graduating from Hugo High School in 1952, he served in the U.S. Army, completing basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, advanced training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and his duty in West Germany. He later earned a B.S. in Zoology and Wildlife Management from Oklahoma State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Zoology and Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Ernie fulfilled childhood dreams of international travel by spending a year in 1966-67 radio-tracking impala antelope in Northern Kenya with his first wife, Juanita. His career in wildlife biology took him to Texas A&M University and later to the University of Idaho, where he taught, administered academic and research programs for 25 years, and continued extensive international work in Africa, Asia, and Central America. He visited Africa five times, taught the first wildlife management course by a Westerner in China in 1980, and visited the Wolong Panda Preserve and other notable sites. An active member of The Wildlife Society, he served as president of both the Texas and Idaho chapters and volunteered his expertise with the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service after retirement.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and sister, his first wife Juanita, and his son Brian Ables. Survivors include his wife, Lucille; son Christopher Ables and daughter-in-law Latasha Ables; grandchildren Krishana and Darius Ables, Jordan and Jaci Frost; great-grandchildren Kingston and Kamar; stepson Tracy Frost; and daughter-in-law Heather Frost. Ernie lived a remarkable life shaped by curiosity, dedication to education and conservation, and a deep appreciation for the opportunities that carried him from his Oklahoma roots to the far corners of the world.