Dr. James Vernon Flack

DR. JAMES VERNON FLACK, age 81, died on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. He was born in Little Rock, Ark. on Feb. 3, 1933 to Bess Scott Flack and James Vernon Flack Sr. His early childhood years were spent on his parents' dairy farm in Mabelvale, Ark. His family moved to Little Rock when his father became the proprietor of a small neighborhood grocery store at 12th and Dennison. After graduating from Little Rock High School (now Little Rock Central High School), he attended Hendrix College for three years, at which time he was admitted to the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. Jim and his beautiful high school sweetheart, Jane Norton, were married in 1954. After obtaining his doctor of medicine degree in 1958, Jim interned at St. Vincent Infirmary. He then attended the U.S. Naval School of Aviation Medicine in Pensacola, Fla. and went on to serve for three years as a Naval Flight Surgeon at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla. Upon completion of his service in the Navy, Jim and his family returned to Little Rock, where he and his best friend, Dr. Harold Hedges, founded the Little Rock General Practice Clinic, later known as the Little Rock Family Practice Clinic. Jim served as chief of staff at St. Vincent Infirmary. He served as medical director at Presbyterian Village for 20 years. He retired from private practice and became senior vice president and chief medical officer at St. Vincent Infirmary. His professional affiliations included the American Academy of Family Practice, the Arkansas Medical Society and the Pulaski County Medical Society. Jim began his lifelong obsession with the game of tennis when he played on the Little Rock Senior High and Hendrix College tennis teams. His love of tennis continued as he served on the founding Board of Directors of the Little Rock Racquet Club and as the second board president. Jim played for many years at a highly competitive level and loved every minute of a good game of tennis. He also enjoyed playing tennis at the Country Club of Little Rock and The Red Apple Inn at Eden Isle, where he maintained memberships. Jim spent many years enjoying weekends at his lake houses, first on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs and later at Eden Isle on Greers Ferry Lake. He was an accomplished amateur photographer and especially loved photographing scenes in nature. Jim also enjoyed snow skiing, reading, golfing and dancing. Jim is predeceased by his parents and by his wife of 48 years, Jane Norton Flack. He is survived by his sister, Mary Bess Mulhollan, of Fayetteville; his daughter, Cathy Murphy and her husband, Warren, of Little Rock; his son, Dr. James Norton Flack, of Houston, Texas and his daughter, Laura Flack, of Austin, Texas. Jim is survived by three grandsons, James Murphy of New York, N.Y., John Murphy of Little Rock and Mark Murphy of Ft. Drum, N.Y. along with other relatives. Jim is also survived by his dear and special friend, Virginia Boyd, of Little Rock. Jim was a fun-loving, vivacious man who adored his family and friends and was loved by all. He was always available to friends in times of need, who were comforted by his medical knowledge and his caring, positive spirit. The family would like to offer special thanks to his loyal care givers during his time at Presbyterian Village: Jeannie Cromwell, Johnnie Mae Stewart, Shirley Pettus, Charlene Hatter and many Village staff members. Many thanks also to the caring staff of Arkansas Hospice, who were so helpful during the past year. A graveside service will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church Garden Columbarium on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014 at noon, officiated by the Rev. R. Ewing Jackson and followed by a reception in St. Mark's Parish Hall. If you wish to make a memorial in Jim's memory, the family requests that they be made to the Presbyterian Village Foundation or the Arkansas Hospice Foundation. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.