Vet Cetera magazine 2015

IN MEMORIAM
We honor those who have served the profession,
our distinguished colleagues and friends.
Dr. Don Beavers
Don Beavers, DVM, of Faxon, Okla., died Sept. 23,
2015. He was 73.
An Oklahoma native, he was born in Grandfield and
grew up on a farm near Chattanooga. He earned
his DVM degree from OSU in 1967. He owned Beavers
Animal Hospital in Lawton, Okla., for more than
30 years. Dr. Beavers also farmed and raised cattle.
Known for his expertise in ratite medicine, he conducted
seminars across the country and authored the
book Ostrich, Emu, Rhea: Reproduction, Management,
Nutrition, & Health. He also formulated ratite rations.
He was a past president of the Oklahoma Academy
of Veterinary Practice and Oklahoma and Comanche
County VMAs and served on the Oklahoma
State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, Oklahoma
State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Admissions Committee, and Exotic Newcastle Disease
Task Force. In 1998, Dr. Beavers was named Oklahoma
Veterinarian of the Year and Don Beavers Day
was declared in Lawton on Jan. 24. He is survived by
his wife, Sally; a son and two stepdaughters; seven
grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorials
may be made to Central Baptist Church, 901
S.W. B, Lawton, OK 73501.He enjoyed working with
metal and leather, fishing and photography. He also
enjoyed his wife’s cooking, especially her cherry pies.
SOURCE: LAWTON RITTER GRAY FUNERAL HOME AND AVMA
Jana Black
Many faculty, staff and alumni of OSU’s Center for
Veterinary Health Sciences were saddened to learn
of the sudden passing of Jana Black, 67, of Warr
Acres, Okla., on Oct. 30, 2015. Ms. Black worked
with many faculty, staff and students in her role as
executive director of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical
Association. Her passion for veterinary medicine was
evident in all her activities as the director.
She graduated from Yukon High School, studied at the
University of Oklahoma, then attended and graduated
from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Her enthusiasm for baseball, her grandchildren and
veterinary medicine will be sorely missed by all here
at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences.
Jana is survived by her husband, Jim Black; son
Keith (Sherri) Linn; stepsons Chris Black and
Jay (Robin) Black; four grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Oklahoma
Animal Care Foundation, formerly the Oklahoma Veterinary
Medical Foundation, P.O. Box 14521, Oklahoma
City, OK 73113 (405-478-1002).
SOURCE: OBITS FOR LIFE
Dr. Thomas A. Byrd
Thomas A. “T.A.” Byrd, DVM, of Tulsa, died Nov. 25,
2015. He was 91.
He grew up in Madill, Okla., and graduated from Capitol
Hill High School in Oklahoma City. He served in
the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945,
attaining the rank of sergeant. He attended Oklahoma
City University and transferred to Oklahoma A&M College
in 1947 to study veterinary medicine. He earned
his DVM degree in 1953.
Dr. Byrd practiced veterinary medicine for a short time
in Antlers, Okla., before moving his family to McAlester,
where he practiced from 1954 until 1985. He
was a member of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical
Association (president, 1978-79), the OVMA Executive
Board (1984-1987) and the Oklahoma Veterinarian
of the Year in 1991. He was also active in the
McAlester Rotary Club and the Grand Avenue United
Methodist Church.
He was an avid OSU fan, serving on the veterinary
college’s Admissions Board for many years. He was
honored as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1991. He also
loved OSU athletics, especially football.
Byrd is survived by his son, Gary (Karen) Byrd; daughters,
Jamee Byrd Market; Jan (Jerry) McVicker; Julie
Kathleen “Kathy” (Tom) Cooper; four grandchildren,
four great-grandchildren, several step-grandchildren
and numerous relatives and friends. Memorial donations
may be made to the OSU Foundation, 308 McElroy
Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078.
SOURCE: TULSA WORLD
Dr. Patricia N. Chism
Patricia N. Chism, DVM, of Etna, Calif., died Nov.
19, 2014, after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.
She was 54.
She earned her DVM degree from OSU in 1995 followed
by an internship and residency in large animal
surgery at the University of Tennessee. While a veterinary
student, she was the U.S. representative to the
International Veterinary Student Association and traveled
to England, Europe and South Africa for meetings.
Dr. Chism worked in California equine veterinary practices
in Santa Ynez and Salinas before setting up her
own large animal practice in Scott Valley in 2006.
She and Dennis Moyles married in 2008. The couple
attended the National Finals Rodeo and AAEP
national meetings, visited the Grand Ole Opry and
enjoyed annual family camping trips. They helped
family and friends move cattle into the mountains
and visited their grandchildren. Dr. Chism loved riding
and camping in the mountains with her husband.
She is survived by her husband, Dennis Moyles;
mother, Vera Looker of Santa Barbara, Calif.; four sisters,
two brothers, three stepsons, a stepdaughter, six
grandchildren, and seven nieces and nephews. Gifts
in memory of Dr. Chism may be made to the American
Association of Equine Practitioners, 4075 Iron
Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.
SOURCE: SANTA BARBARA (CALIF.) NEWS-PRESS
Dr. James Claude Cooper
Dr. James Claude Cooper of Claremore, Okla., died
April 16, 2015. He was 90.
Born in Mount Olive, Ark., he moved with his family
to Claremore when James was a teenager. He graduated
from Claremore High School and, with written
permission from his mother, joined the U.S. Marine
Corps at age 17. He served as a navigator and gunner
of a B25 plane and navigator of a Douglas SPD
Dauntless dive bomber plane in the South Pacific
during World War II.
78 Center for Veterinary Health Sciences