February 15, 2021

AVMA member 

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Andrew M. Bailey Jr.

Dr. Bailey (Auburn ’60), 90, McCarley, Mississippi, died Oct. 30, 2020. Following graduation, he joined his father, Dr. Andrew M. Bailey Sr., in practice in Winona, Mississippi. In 1975, Dr. Bailey began working as a federal veterinarian in Aliceville, Alabama. He later rejoined the family veterinary practice in Winona. Dr. Bailey was a member of the Mississippi VMA. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Dr. Bailey is survived by his wife, Nita; a daughter and a son; five grandchildren; and a brother. Memorials may be made to Winona Christian School, 1014 S. Applegate St., Winona, MS 38967, or the Salvation Army, 1400 10th St., Sarasota, FL 34236.

Michael K. Eberle

Dr. Eberle (Iowa State ’80), 73, Des Moines, Iowa, died Sept. 14, 2020. He owned Eberle Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Des Moines, prior to retirement in 2017. Dr. Eberle served on the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine for nine years, chairing the board for four years; was a member of the Iowa VMA and a past chair of its Legislative Committee; and was a past president of the Des Moines VMA. He also served nine years as president of the board of directors of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, establishing its annual Iowa Dog Jog fundraiser and heading its fundraising drive for the construction of its first central Iowa facility. Active in his community, Dr. Eberle was a past president of the Friends of Des Moines Parks and established its annual fundraiser, Fore the Parks. In 2017, the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department named him Volunteer Friend of the Year.

Dr. Eberle was a veteran of the Army. He is survived by his wife, Paula, two brothers, and two sisters. Memorials may be made to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, 5452 NE 22nd St., Des Moines, IA 50313; Friends of Des Moines Parks, 1551 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Des Moines, IA 50317; Companion Animal Fund, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA 50011; Broadlawns Medical Center, 1801 Hickman Road, Des Moines, IA 50314; or Iowa Public Broadcasting Service, 6450 Corporate Drive, P.O. Box 6450, Johnston, IA 50131.

James L. Ehler

Dr. Ehler (Ohio State ’67), 85, Bridgewater, Vermont, died Aug. 10, 2020. He owned a small animal practice in Hightstown, New Jersey, prior to retirement in 1988. During that time, Dr. Ehler also owned an equine boarding facility. Earlier in his career, he worked briefly for Squibb Corp. in New Jersey. Dr. Ehler was a veteran of the Army. He is survived by two daughters, two sons, and five grandchildren. Memorials may be made to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406.

Robert K. Maynard

Dr. Maynard (Michigan State ’79), 67, Spring Hill, Florida, died Sept. 13, 2020. Following graduation, he was in large animal practice in Michigan. Dr. Maynard subsequently practiced small animal medicine at Adkins 301 Pet Hospital in Zephyrhills, Florida, and You’ve Got a Friend Low Cost Pet Clinic in Mascotte, Florida. During his career, he also served as a relief veterinarian and was involved in emergency animal services in Hawaii. Dr. Maynard is survived by his wife, Wendy; a son, stepson, and stepdaughter; three grandchildren; his mother; and two sisters. Memorials may be made to The Restoration Center of Florida, a nonprofit organization providing support for women previously incarcerated, and sent to 13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL 34614, trcfl.com.

Robert E. Okin Jr.

Dr. Okin (Auburn ’73), 71, Columbiana, Alabama, died Oct. 25, 2020. A small animal veterinarian, he most recently practiced at All Creatures Pet Hospital in Gardendale, Alabama, and Forestdale Veterinary Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. Earlier in his career, Dr. Okin owned Valleydale Animal Clinic in Birmingham for more than 30 years. A diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, he served as president of the Jefferson County VMA from 1981-85. Dr. Okin is survived by a son, a daughter, three grandchildren, and a sister. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; American Cancer Society, 1100 Ireland Way, Suite 300, Birmingham, AL 35205; or Shelby County Humane Society, 381 McDow Road, Columbiana, AL 35051.

John W. Paul

Dr. Paul (Ohio State ’72), 86, Canandaigua, New York, died Oct. 29, 2020. He worked for Hoechst Roussel Vet in Somerville, New Jersey, prior to retirement in 1998. During his career, Dr. Paul helped develop Panacur and Regu-Mate for use in equines. He was a past president of the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics and was a past treasurer of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Active in his community, Dr. Paul served on the board of directors of the Ontario County Historical Society in Canandaigua, was a member of the Canandaigua Scientific Association, and established the Parkinson Support Group of the Finger Lakes. He was a veteran of the Army. Dr. Paul’s wife, Patricia; a son; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild survive him. Memorials may be made to the Parkinson Support Group of the Finger Lakes, P.O. Box 131, Canandaigua, NY 14424, or First Congregational Church, 58 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424.

Rossana Perez-Freytes

Dr. Perez-Freytes (Wisconsin ’10), 37, Davenport, Florida, died July 31, 2020. A diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, she served as an internal medicine clinician and was the medical and internship director at Veterinary Healthcare Associates in Winter Haven, Florida. Earlier in her career, Dr. Perez-Freytes was an associate veterinarian at Prestonwood Animal Clinic in Houston and served as a relief veterinarian in the Spring and The Woodlands areas of Texas. She is survived by her parents, a sister, and a brother. Memorials may be made to the Rossana Perez-Freytes Memorial Scholarship Fund, Attn: Heidi Kramer, Senior Director of Development, University of Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, 1848 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53726.

Gary A. Ponder

Dr. Ponder (Louisiana State ’85), 68, Flippin, Arkansas, died Nov. 11, 2020. Following graduation, he practiced in Russellville, Arkansas. Dr. Ponder subsequently established White River Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Flippin. His wife, Toni; two sons and a daughter; and a sister survive him. Memorials, toward a preveterinary discretionary fund in memory of Dr. Gary Ponder, may be sent to Arkansas State University Foundation, P.O. Box 1990, State University, AR 72467. Memorials may also be made to Hospice of the Ozarks, 701 Burnett Drive, Mountain Home, AR 72653, or Have a Heart Pet Shelter, 657 AR-202, Yellville, AR 72687.

Clyde E. Taylor

Dr. Taylor (Auburn ’60), 85, Ridgeland, Mississippi, died Oct. 24, 2020. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, he was a charter faculty member of Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During his tenure, Dr. Taylor taught, served as extension veterinarian and coordinator of special programs for the veterinary college, and was assistant to the dean. He retired in the late 1990s.

Prior to joining the veterinary college in 1976, Dr. Taylor worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was in private practice in Brandon, Mississippi. Active in organized veterinary medicine, he was a past president of the Mississippi and Central Mississippi VMAs and served as Mississippi’s alternate delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates from 1996-2007 and as delegate from 2007-09. Dr. Taylor was a member of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Hall of Fame and MVMA Hall of Fame. In 1983, the American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians honored him with the Outstanding Teacher of Veterinary Food Hygiene Award. Dr. Taylor was named Mississippi Veterinarian of the Year in 1992 and the American Association of Extension Veterinarians’ Extension Veterinarian of the Year in 1993. In 2007, he received Auburn University’s Wilford S. Bailey Distinguished Alumnus Award. Dr. Taylor was also a past recipient of the Dean’s Pegasus Award at the Mississippi State veterinary college.

He served 20 years in the Mississippi Air National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Dr. Taylor’s three children, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Clyde E. Taylor Endowed Scholarship, MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762.

Please report the death of a veterinarian promptly to the JAVMA News staff via a toll-free phone call at 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email at newsavma [dot] org (news[at]avma[dot]org); or fax at 847-925-9329. For an obituary to be published, JAVMA must be notified within six months of the date of death.