In Memory – April 24, 2025

Franklin B. Alley

Dr. Alley (Auburn ’70), 83, Nashville, Tennessee, died March 15, 2025. He was the founder of Elm Hill Veterinary Clinic in Nashville. Dr. Alley also co-founded a pet emergency clinic in Nashville. He was a past president of the Tennessee VMA. Dr. Alley is survived by his wife, Jean; a son and two daughters; seven grandchildren; and a sister. Memorials may be made to the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s, 1483 N. Mount Juliet Road, #175, Mount Juliet, TN 37122, or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research,  Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163.

James B. Bowen

Dr. Bowen, 76, Narragansett, Rhode Island, died February 19, 2025. A 1981 veterinary graduate of the University of Milan in Italy, he was the founder of Chariho Animal Hospital in Richmond, Rhode Island; South Bay Veterinary Clinic in Narragansett; and Island Animal Hospital on Marco Island, Florida. In retirement, Dr. Bowen worked for Petco. He was a member of the Rhode Island and Florida VMAs.

Dr. Bowen was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He received several honors, including two Silver Star medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross with double Oak Leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. His wife, Donna; a daughter; and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to Owl Watch, 12250 Tamiami Trail E., Suite 309, Naples, FL 34113, or toward research on cancer in Golden Retrievers and sent to the Morris Animal Foundation, 720 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 174A, Denver, CO 80246.

James E. Dougherty

Dr. Dougherty (Missouri ’82), 68, Springfield, Missouri, died July 8, 2024. Following graduation, he established Dysart Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Dysart, Iowa. In 1997, Dr. Dougherty moved to Missouri, where he worked at Buffalo Veterinary Clinic in Buffalo. From 2000 until retirement in 2012, he served as a relief veterinarian in the Springfield area, also working closely with Gentle Care Animal Hospital in Nixa, Missouri. His son, two daughters, three grandchildren, three sisters, and a brother survive him. Memorials may be made to Assemblies of God World Missions, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802.

Katrina M. Fedorka

Dr. Fedorka (Michigan State ’14), 37, Ramona, California, died October 10, 2024. She served as a relief veterinarian in California’s San Diego County, also providing in-home veterinary and euthanasia services. Earlier in her career, Dr. Fedorka worked at Serenity Animal Hospital in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and practiced at Banfield Pet Hospital in the greater San Diego area. She is survived by her family.

William F. MacKenzie

Dr. MacKenzie (Ohio State ’58), 96, Colfax, North Carolina, died October 6, 2024. He was a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Dr. MacKenzie served in the Air Force. His wife, Phyllis; children; grandchildren; and half brother survive him.

Norman W. Rantanen

Dr. Rantanen (Washington State ’67), 82, Fallbrook, California, died March 22, 2025. Following graduation, he served in the Air Force Veterinary Corps, receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star for his service. Dr. Rantanen subsequently served in the Air National Guard. From 1976-83, he was a member of the veterinary faculty at Washington State University, where he taught and worked as a diagnostician, developing techniques for the identification of soft tissue injuries and respiratory lesions and obtaining tissue biopsies using ultrasonic guidance. During that time, Dr. Rantanen became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR).

In 1983, he moved to Lexington, Kentucky, and established a diagnostic imaging practice, focusing on equine medicine. Dr. Rantanen later relocated the practice to Fallbrook, working there for almost 30 years. During his career, he authored textbooks on diagnostic ultrasound and lectured worldwide. Dr. Rantanen helped establish the ACVR Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging Society. In 1988, he received the Pioneer Award at the History of Medical Ultrasound meeting. Dr. Rantanen was honored with the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Distinguished Educator Award in 2003. In 2011, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine named him a Distinguished Alumnus.

Dr. Rantanen is survived by his wife, Marlene; two sons; and a brother. Memorials may be made to Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine's Alexander Family Resident Award, P.O. Box 647010, Pullman, WA 99164, or Fallbrook Center for the Arts Inc., 103 S. Main Ave., Fallbrook, CA 92028.

Willis H. Shaw

Dr. Shaw (Cornell ’62), 87, Randolph, New York, died March 19, 2025. He owned a practice in Randolph, also serving as the veterinarian for the Chautauqua County Humane Society. Earlier in his career, Dr. Shaw practiced in Illinois and Vermont, worked for the state of Vermont and for the federal government, and practiced in South Dayton, New York.

He was a member of the New York State VMS and was a past secretary of the Vermont VMA. Dr. Shaw served a term as a board member for the town of Conewango, New York. He is survived by his wife, Deborah; four daughters and two stepchildren; three grandchildren and a stepgrandchild; his great-grandchildren; and a brother. One daughter, Dr. Mary Kathleen Shaw (Missouri ’98), is also a veterinarian. Memorials may be made to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown, NY 14701.

Jacqueline A. Shihata

Dr. Shihata (Ross ’99), 54, Dalton, Georgia, died September 17, 2024. During her career, she owned Maybank Animal Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, and Woodbury Animal Hospital in Woodbury, New York. Dr. Shihata also provided her services via telemedicine; served on the board of directors of Keeper of the Wild, a wildlife rescue service; and volunteered with several other rescue and rehabilitation charities. Her fiancée, John Schultz; her parents; and a sister survive her. Memorials may be made to Keeper of the Wild, 1606 Coolers Dairy Road, Walterboro, SC 29488.

A version of this story appears in the June 2025 print issue of JAVMA

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