Dr. James Doyle Carroll DVM

James Doyle Carroll, D.V.M. Passed away peacefully November 24, 2013 in Corsicana, Texas. Born at home in Barry, Texas, November 21, 1924 to James W. and Blanche E. Carroll. Dr. J.D., as he was known to friends, colleagues and patrons of Carroll and Harper Animal Hospital, graduated from Blooming Grove High School in 1941 where he was captain of the football team and salutatorian of his graduating class. He enrolled at Texas A&M at age 16, but his education was interrupted by World War II. He entered the Army in 1943 and served as a corporal in France in the 79th Infantry Division. He was part of the D-Day invasion, landing on Utah Beach. In September 1944, he was captured by the German Army and imprisoned as a P.O.W. Upon his liberation, he resumed his education at Texas A&M and earned his degree in veterinary medicine in 1952 with honors. He was a member of Phi Zeta Veterinary Medical Honor Society. Veterinary school classmate Dr. John Harper and Dr. J.D. came to Corsicana in 1952 to work with Dr. M. Smotherman. When Dr. Smotherman died suddenly two years later, Carroll and Harper Animal Hospital was born. Dr. J.D.’s brother, Dr. Ray Dean Carroll, joined the pair in 1957. Dr. J.D. practiced large animal veterinary medicine in Navarro County and surrounding counties for fifty-six years before retiring in 2008. Dr. J.D. preferred working on horses, but he impacted the cattle industry worldwide with his recognition of neonatal isoerythrolysis, a severe type of anemic condition caused by different blood types of the sire and dam. He was able to isolate the cause as a faulty anaplasmosis vaccine, saving the lives of innumerable cattle. Dr. J.D. also served as an auction barn veterinarian for over fifty years and was the first veterinarian to initiate aging and pregnancy testing at the sale barn, a practice that swept through the cattle industry and revolutionized the cattle auction process forever. He was an early participant in C-section deliveries, cosmetic dehornings, and many other procedures that are commonplace today. Dr. J.D. made emergency calls to farms and ranches caring for entire herds of cattle that had died of poisoning to vaccinating elk. Dr. J.D. received the Outstanding Veterinary Student Award at Texas A&M, the Outstanding Blooming Grove Ex-Student Award and Farmer of the Year Award from the Navarro Co. Youth Expo. He served on many boards and in numerous civic capacities and held memberships in the American Veterinary Medical Society, American Veterinarian Theriogenology, Texas A&M Former Students Association, The 12th Man Association, and Navarro Co. Aggie Club. He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church for sixty years where he served in numerous leadership positions. On January 31, 1947, the second anniversary of his liberation from prison camp, he married the former Maxine Louise Sunkel in Tulare, California. They enjoyed 59 years of marriage before she predeceased him in 2007. Dr. J.D. is survived by his three daughters, “the three C’s”: Carla Carroll Thomas, Candace Carroll Grady and Courtney Corinne Carroll, his sons-in-law Dr. Robert Thomas and Douglas S. Grady, all of Dallas, his grandson Zachary W. Thomas and wife Dr. Sarah Y. Thomas of Houston, his sister Frances Holdeman of Kennedale, brothers Dr. Ray Dean and Rudy Carroll and sisters-in-law Lula Carroll and Billie Carroll, all of Corsicana, sister-in-law Carol S. Auslen of La Quinta, California and many nieces and nephews from Texas, California and Nevada. His death in the comfort of his own home would not have been possible without the compassionate care and delicious cooking given him by his faithful companions, the Amazing Angels. Angela Kurney Steward, Joyce Irvin, Ricky Steward, Joy Johnson, Robin Barbee, Jalessa Kurney, Quintin Irvin and Jasmine Kurney gave him their unconditional love. These women and men were more than care givers and nurses; to Dr. J.D., they were family and he loved them. His family is forever grateful for their presence in his life. The family would also like to thank Rev. William Kurney for his ministry to their father and Family First Hospice for the assistance provided to Dr. J.D. and the Amazing Angels in his final days. Services and entombment will be December 3, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corsicana, Texas. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. John Harper, Dr. James Dodson, Dr. Ricky Rogers, Dr. Darryl Kennard, John Taylor, Billy Steele, Ronald Elmore and all the farmers and ranchers who were long-time patrons of his veterinary practice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Dr. J. D. Carroll Youth Exposition Award at Community National Bank and Trust 321 North 15Th Street Corsicana, Texas 75110, Family First Hospice 109 S.W. Main Street Ennis, Texas 75119 or a charity of your choice.

Dr. James Doyle Carroll DVM

November 21, 1924 - November 24, 2013