Stanley Albert Ahler, 63, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, in Flagstaff.

Mr. Ahler was born Sept. 10, 1943, in Florence, Ala., to Ernest and Ruth Ahler. In 1947, the family moved to the Powell, Tenn., area, where Mr. Ahler attended Powell elementary and high schools. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1967 with a major in anthropology. He worked on numerous local archaeological projects sponsored by UT. He earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Missouri, Columbia, where he developed a lifelong interest in the archaeology of the Northern Plains.

In 1975, he moved to Grand Forks, N.D., where he continued his archaeological research through the University of North Dakota until 1990. He moved to Flagstaff in 1990 and worked as a staff archaeologist with Northern Arizona University. A 16-year-resident of Flagstaff, Mr. Ahler was co-founder of PaleoCultural Research Group, a non-profit research and educational organization that conducts archaeological projects, mainly in the Northern Plains. His profession as an archaeologist allowed him to be in contact with and mentor others with similar interests, and this helped him become part of the professional and social community of Flagstaff. He attended services at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall.

Mr. Ahler is survived by two former spouses Janet Ahler and Lisa Blackford; son Scott Ahler; step-daughter Reanna Blackford; brothers Henry, Bruce and Steve Ahler; and one granddaughter.

A memorial service will be at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, 510 Leroux St., Feb. 25, at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Prostate Cancer Research Institute, www.prostate-cancer.org; or the PaleoCultural Research Group Research Fund, Attn: Delia, P.O. Box EE, Flagstaff, AZ 86002.

Arrangements are by Norvel Owens Mortuary.