Jack Leigh Eidson

Jack L. Eidson, M. D.Jack Leigh Eidson, M.D. passed away peacefully, age 91, on June 15, 2014 in Weatherford, Texas, to join his beloved wife, Wanda, in the arms of the Lord. "Dr. Jack," as he was affectionately known, was born on August 26, 1922 in Greenville, South Carolina, to Charles George Eidson (1887-1961) and Margaret Edna (Leigh) Eidson (1887-1961). Dr. Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Wera Wanda (Carroll) Eidson; his sister, Margaret (Eidson) Metz and her husband, June; his brother, Charles G. Eidson, Jr. and his wife, Lee; his son, Scott Lee Eidson; and his daughter, Wanda Carroll (Eidson) Hobbs and her husband, Roy. Dr. Jack attended schools in New York City, Dallas and Jacksonville, Florida, before moving with his family to Houston, where he graduated from Lamar High School in 1939. After his departure for college, his family moved to Waco.Dr. Jack graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1943 on a Plan II program and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Sigma fraternities. During the war, the Army sent Dr. Jack through Baylor Medical School on its three-year "fast-track" program, from which he graduated in 1946. For the next four years, he served out his obligation in the U.S. Army Air Corp with duty in Houston, San Antonio, Indianapolis and Denver. In late 1949, Dr. Jack mustered out of the Army in Denver. While traveling to Waco to see his family, he toured several small towns to inquire about practice opportunities. One of his last stops was in Weatherford, "that beautiful town with the highway running right through the middle of its courthouse." He parked on the square and went inside the City Pharmacy and met the owner, Gerald Davis, to inquire about the city's medical needs. Gerald told Dr. Jack that if he would settle here, he would give him the spare office in the rear of the City Pharmacy for six months, rent free, to help him get started. The deal was done and it sealed a life-long friendship. When Dr. Jack moved to Weatherford in January 1950, he became one of only eight physicians in the city of about 8,000. This generation of doctors engaged in "General Practice," that included surgery, ER, psychiatry, OB-Gyn, pediatrics, geriatrics and, yes, housecalls. This was also the generation of doctors that were often paid with chickens, hogs, peanuts, melons and peaches. Dr. Jack practiced for over 50 years and delivered over 5,000 Parker County citizens. He was especially known for a good tonsillectomy and his gracious and gentle bedside manner. He had often said, "I was fortunate that I got to practice during the 'Golden Age of Medicine,'" that period after penicillin and before medicare!" Dr. Jack was an active citizen and involved with many professional, political, religious, social, civic and government organizations. He was an active member and an ordained Elder of the Grace First Presbyterian Church of Weatherford. In addition, he was a 32nd degree Mason in both Scottish Rite and York Rite Orders and a member of the Knights of Pythias. Professionally, Dr. Jack was a member of American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association (T.M.A.), Southern Medical Association, The American Academy of Family Physicians, and The Royal Society of Medicine in London, England. He also served as the Medical Director for American Bankers Insurance Company and as a past president of the Medical Directors Association of Texas. He served nine years on the T.M.A. State Committee of Insurance and six years on the Insurance Council for T.M.A. He was past president of the local Tri-County Medical Society and was a delegate to T.M.A. for more than 20 years. He served as a doctor for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and as Chief of Staff at Weatherford's Campbell Memorial Hospital for a time. In 1978, he organized the Three Rivers Chapter of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. In August 1993, Dr. Jack was honored as Family Physician of the Year for the State of Texas by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. In 1996 he was certified as a Medical Director for Nursing Homes and continued practicing medicine until his retirement in 2000. When asked about his profession, he often related: "You're a doctor when you wake up in the morning, and you're a doctor when you go to bed that night." It may be added: "you're still a doctor when you have to wake up at night and go to bed again before morning." If a patient were able to call him today, he would most likely give his same age-old advice: "Take two aspirin, a hot bath and go to bed." Dr. Jack received a 30-year pen for service to the Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the Silver Beaver in 1962. He served as a National Representative and as a member of the Executive Board of the Longhorn Council. In addition, he served as a voluntary physician at two National Jamborees. All four of his sons earned the Eagle Scout Award. He supported Girl Scouts too. In 1996 he was elected financial director of the Heart of Texas Girl Scout Council and his daughter earned the Curved Bar Award. Dr. Jack was also active in civic affairs, having served as President of the Weatherford Lions Club, The Cancer Society, as director of the Chamber of Commerce, Drive Director for the United Way and three terms as a Weatherford City Commissioner and Mayor pro tem. He also served on the Executive Committee of Region 5 of the Health Service Agency and, in 1997, was still serving as the Weatherford City Health Officer and Medical Director. In 1979, he received the Chamber of Commerce Award for Outstanding Citizen. Locally known as "Mr. Republican," Dr. Jack became active in politics in 1952 working for the campaign of Dwight Eisenhower who carried Parker County that year. He was Parker County Republican Chairman, State Republican Committeeman for the 22nd Senatorial District and an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1972 as a Texas Elector. Dr. Jack did have a hobby"he loved wine! He and Wanda were members of the Confrerie Saint-Etienne of the Alsace Region of France, an ancient society or brotherhood for the integrity, appreciation and promotion of Alsatian wines. In 1971, he was one of the founding members of the Fort Worth Chapter of this Confrerie, the first such chapter outside of France. This Chapter is still the most viable and active chapter in the United States with over 100 members. He also was a member of the Jurade de Saint Emilion, the International Wine and Food Society, the Chaine de Rotisseurs and the Knights of the Vine. He founded the Oenological Society of the Texas Medical Association and was one of the charter members of the "Wine Committee" at the Fort Worth Club. The International Wine and Food Society served as the basis of, or excuse for, Dr. Jack's and Wanda's many excursions around the world where they met many like-minded wine aficionados in such places as England, France, Germany, South Africa, India and Australia. When asked what his favorite wine was, Dr. Jack's usual reply was "the one I am drinking now." Dr. Jack participated in his Father's Day lunch, surrounded by his family, that included a bit of roasted lamb and a fine old 1982 Pinot Noir. He then laid down to take his eternal nap.Dr. Jack is survived by the following: His son, Jack Leigh Eidson, Jr. and wife, Judy of Whitt; their daughter, Nicole Elizabeth (Eidson) Snider and husband, Dave of Tempe, Arizona and his children, Kaitlyn and Sean; their son, Jack Leigh Eidson, III, M.D. and wife, Kristy and their sons, Jack IV, Rylander and Starks, all of Temple, Texas. His daughter Carroll's sons, Christopher Stephen "Chris" Pipes of St. Petersburg, Florida; and Eric Bryan Pipes and wife, Randi, her son, Braxton and their son, Andrew, of Houston. Carroll's daughter, Tiffany Dawn Hobbs and her daughter, Aubrey, of Kingwood; Carroll's step-daughter, Angela (Hobbs) Archinal and husband, Jason and their daughter, Tori, of Kingwood; and her step-son, Scott Hobbs and wife, Tiffany and their son, Jason, of Dallas. His son, Mark Carroll Eidson, M.D. and wife, Sarah, of Weatherford and their sons, Weston Carroll Eidson and wife, Katie, of Fort Worth; Beau Montagu Eidson of Austin; and Barrett Crake Eidson of Los Angeles, California. His son, Jon Keeling Eidson and wife, Lynne, of Fort Worth and his daughters, Martha Jane "Marti" (Eidson) Rosche and husband, Greg, of Olathe, Kansas; Margaret Louise "Maggi" (Eidson) Seidler and husband, Brandon, of Fort Worth and their mother, Stephanie Lane Eidson; and Lynne's son, Bryce Stanford Reed and wife, Catherine, of Shreveport, Louisiana. Also surviving are numerous nephews, nieces and loving friends world wide. The family wishes to thank Toni Rhodes, Renee Spinler, Hortencia Tacuba and Silvano Sebastian for their compassionate and dedicated service to Dr. Jack's care and comfort. A memorial service will be held at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 606 Mockingbird Lane, Weatherford, Texas 76086 on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family desires that memorials be sent to Grace First Presbyterian Church of Weatherford, The Boy or Girl Scouts of America or the charity of your choice.