AVMA News

In Memory – May 11, 2023

Member status key:

AVMA member | AVMA honor roll member | Nonmember

Kristy Austin

Dr. Austin (Oklahoma State '94), 52, Bella Vista, Arkansas, died December 9, 2022. Following graduation, she practiced in Joplin, Missouri, subsequently owning a practice in Bentonville, Arkansas. Dr. Austin was a member of the Arkansas VMA. She is survived by her husband, Kelly; a son and a daughter; her parents; and a sister. Memorials may be made to the Christian Veterinary Mission, P.O. Box 5888, Lynwood, WA 98046, or to Mew Cat Rescue, P.O. Box 2311, Bentonville, AR 72712.

Raymond B. Baggs

Dr. Baggs (California-Davis '69), 80, Aloha, Oregon, died April 23, 2023. He taught and served as a consultant in veterinary pathology at the University of Rochester for 30 years prior to retirement. Dr. Baggs later served as an attending veterinarian at Oregon State University. He is survived by his wife, Judith; two sons and a daughter; and three grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc., 125 Broad St., 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004; Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc., Attn: Online Services, P.O. Box 97166, Washington, DC 20090; or Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104.

Jerry G. Conway

Dr. Conway (Texas A&M '76), 69, Comanche, Texas, died February 24, 2023. He owned Conway Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Comanche, until his death. Dr. Conway competed in endurance rides for more than 30 years and served as a member of the American Endurance Ride Conference's Veterinary Committee and Welfare of the Horse Committee. He was also a member of the Texas VMA. Dr. Conway is survived by his wife, Kay; a daughter and a son; a grandchild; and a brother. Memorials may be made to Comanche All Pets Alive, 104 Trevino, Comanche, TX 76442, or Texas Endurance Rider's Association, 845 Wilson Road, Waxahachie, TX 75165.

Patricia Thomson Herr

Dr. Thomson Herr (Cornell '60), 86, Hershey, Pennsylvania, died April 12, 2023. She co-founded Manheim Pike Veterinary Hospital with her late husband, Dr. Donald M. Herr (Cornell '63), in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Dr. Thomson Herr was a past president of the Pennsylvania VMA and served on the Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine. She volunteered with the Heritage Center Museum, Landis Valley Museum, and Philadelphia Museum of Art. Dr. Thomson Herr is survived by a son, two daughters, and two grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Lancaster History, 230 North President Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603, or the Country Meadows Co-Worker Foundation, Attn: Co-worker Foundation, 830 Cherry Drive, Hershey, PA 17033.

Robert R. Smith

Dr. Smith (Michigan State '49), 99, Tuscola, Illinois, died March 11, 2023. He practiced in Tuscola until retirement in 1988. Dr. Smith served in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps during World War II. Active in his community, he was an alderman for the city of Tuscola from 1975-99. His wife, Mary Alice; three daughters; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Tuscola United Methodist Church, 901 N. Prairie St., Tuscola, IL 61953, or Douglas County Animal Control, 1007 S. Central Ave. E., Tuscola, IL 61953.

A version of this story appears in the July 2023 print issue of JAVMA.


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