jmc

Our tasks are to sum the heights and count the number of heights. There is 1 height in the 40s, 6 heights in the 50s, and 8 heights in the 60s. The sum of these $1+6+8=15$ heights is $1\times 40+6\times 50+8\times 60$ plus the sum of all the units digits listed in the stem-and-leaf plot. The sum is 900 inches and the average height is $900\text{ in.}/15=\boxed{60}$ inches.