David Matthew Yocum III

David Matthew Yocum III, M.D. born April 23, 1922, to David Matthew Yocum, Jr. and Dolly Hill Yocum died at home on July 16, 2012. Dr. Yocum was born in El Dorado, and was graduated from El Dorado High School. He attended Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, and received his medical training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. A rotating internship and surgical residency in general and thoracic surgery was served at Cook County Hospital of Chicago. Dr. Yocum was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Southwestern Surgical Congress. He has served as president of the Arkansas chapter of the American College of Surgeon, and has practiced general and thoracic surgery in El Dorado since 1951. He was the first thoracic surgeon in Arkansas and removed the first lung in the state. A co-founder of the Surgical Clinic of South Arkansas, Dr. Yocum has served on the Foundation Board of the University of Arkansas Medical School. In 1976, he was appointed assistant clinical professor of surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and has also been active on the teaching staff of the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) of South Arkansas. He was a past president of the El Dorado Rotary Club, and has served as Chief of Staff of Union Medical Center. In community activities, Dr. Yocum is a Board member of Union Medical Foundation, First National Bank of El Dorado, and First United Bankshares and First Commercial Bank in Little Rock. In 1981, he retired from medical practice to devote full-time to Alice-Sidney Oil Company of El Dorado and Alice-Sidney Farms, Dryer, and Seed Company of Lake Village. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he served as chairman of the official board. He was a long-time supporter of the Aspen Music Festival and School. His hobbies included snow-skiing and hunting. Suvivors include his wife of 69 years, Marthalyn Rushing Yocum of El Dorado; one son, David Matthew Yocum IV of Lake Village; two grandchildren, Shelton McClintock Yocum of Carbondale, Colo. and Laura Elise Yocum of El Dorado; and one great-granddaughter, Jessamine Elise. He is also survived by one brother, John (Beverly) Hill Yocum of El Dorado; one niece, Lynn (Jeffery) Yocum Dwight of El Dorado; and one nephew, John (Jane) Hill Yocum, Jr., M.D of Little Rock. The family wishes to extend thanks to Dr. Yocum's caregivers Frank Mitchell, Joyce Yarbrough, Velma Hay, Jesse Williams, Bobby Hicks, Robin Coleman, Lisa Tubbs, Keylee Anderson, Patricia Robinson, and Debbie Rocket. The family will receive guests at their residence Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. Services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 18, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Jim Polk and Rev. Edgell Pyle officiating. Private interment will be held prior to the services under the direction of Young's Funeral Directors. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Hill St., El Dorado, Ark. 71730, John R. Williamson Hospice House, 2301 Champagnolle Rd., El Dorado, Ark. 71730, or UAMS, PRI, 4301 W. Markham, Slot 716, Little Rock, Ark. 72205-7199. An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.