Dr. Don Vowell

Born April 7, 1940, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the son of Jack and Ola Mae Vowell, Don was the eldest of three brothers, Mike and Jerry.

Don was raised in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and graduated from Jonesboro High School in 1958. He was an excellent athlete, playing center his freshman year for the Jonesboro High School Hurricanes basketball team and helped win the 1956 basketball state championship earning All State honors. He married his high school sweetheart, Wanda Jean Caldwell in 1958.

Receiving a full basketball scholarship, he attended Hendrix College and in 1967, he graduated with a medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine. Thereafter, Don entered the U.S. Army as medical captain at Killeen Base in Killeen, Texas.

Upon completion of his military service, Don went back to Little Rock and finished his residency in orthopedic surgery at the UAMS. He decided to move to Harrison, Arkansas, and establish an orthopedic and clinical surgical practice, the first in northwest Arkansas. He later partnered with Dr. Charles Ledbetter and founded Ozark Orthopedics Associates.

Don loved flying his Piper aircraft and attending Arkansas Razorback games with family and friends. He enjoyed raising cattle and the related responsibilities, joking to the family about the chances of the Vowells winning Farm Family of the Year one day.

He was also a water and boating enthusiast, spending time canoeing on the Buffalo River, commandeering a houseboat on Table Rock Lake, visiting his beach home on Sanibel Island, Fl., and building his lake home on Lake Hamilton.

In later years, Don never complained regarding his loss of mobility and was known for engineering a double car battery scooter and riding it around town in the company of his brother, Mike, and little dog, Annie, as well as creating a perfect backyard retreat at his lake home.

He was a member of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church and volunteered at Hot Springs Charitable Christian Medical Clinic.

Don is survived by his three children: Debbie Burns (Mike) of Lewisville, Texas; Vicki Vowell (John Lewis) of Hot Springs; and Mark Vowell (Michelle) of Irving,Texas. Don is also survived by his five grandchildren and their spouses: Lauren and Jason Zamaitis; Taylor and Chase Levi; Drew and Reagan Burns; Bailey and Markayla Vowell; and Grace Vowell, and his three great grandchildren, Hank and Hattie Zamaitis and Wren Mae Burns; and his brother, Mike Vowell.

A private Celebration of Life is being planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests for donations to be made to Lake Hamilton Baptist Church, 5963 Central Ave., Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913.