Vaughan Dee McDowell, DVM (Doc)

Vaughan Dee McDowell, DVM, (Doc) age 66, of Rogers went to his Heavenly home with family and friends on Sunday, December 18, 2022. He was born March 22, 1956, in Wellington, Texas the son of D'Arcy "Jim" and June Ann (Nix) McDowell. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Suzie Stacy; and his brother, Michael McDowell, all of Sulphur, Okla. Vaughan grew up in Sulphur, graduating from Sulphur High School with the Class of 1974, where he made lifelong friends. Two years later, also in Sulphur, he met the love of his life, Jamie (Stidham) McDowell. They were married on December 31, 1976. Having grown up on his family's ranch, Vaughan was drawn to veterinary medicine. In 1980, he and Jamie moved to Stillwater, Okla., so he could pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian. Vaughan received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in the spring of 1988. He grew up a cowboy, graduated a cowboy, and would go to Heaven a cowboy. While living in Stillwater, Vaughan and Jamie started a family with the birth of their oldest daughter, Chelsea DeAnn (McDowell) Rojas. They welcomed their second daughter, Kylie Dee (McDowell) Henry following their relocation to Arkansas to open their first veterinary practice. After making the move to the Northwest Arkansas area, Vaughan and Jamie opened McDowell Animal Clinic in Bentonville where he was a dedicated member of his community who always loved the chance to support 4-H and FFA projects. Vaughan enjoyed raising money for showmen in livestock auctions at the fair as well as donating services to students' projects. He loved sharing his knowledge and opened his clinic to many students from surrounding schools and universities for job shadowing and preceptorship opportunities in small and large animal medicine. Dr. McDowell was renowned in the livestock industry and had clients travel to him from surrounding states for his expertise. The whole family was involved in raising and showing market animals, so the Arkansas State Fair held a special place in his heart and was the setting for creating many special memories and friendships. Over the years, his family has expanded to include his daughter's husbands, which Vaughan considered as his own sons. Timothy Rojas, from Arizona, married Chelsea, while William Henry, from Little Rock, married Kylie. In 2020, William (Liam) Delk Henry was born to Kylie and William. One of Vaughan's greatest pleasures was to hold his "little man" while they both took naps or shared peanut M&Ms. In 2021, he retired from providing care for his patients for 33 years to spend time with Liam and his entire family to oversee farm work where he enjoyed checking cattle and giving sage advice. After a long battle with illness, Vaughan passed on to his eternal home as he wished - surrounded by family and with his eyes closed and at peace, as any cowboy should. A celebration of life will be held on March 25, 2023, from 12-2 p.m. at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Rogers, Ark. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a soon to be created 4-H/FFA scholarship in his honor or the Scleroderma Research Foundation. To leave an online condolence please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com "Life ends, that's part of it. His ended good. I refuse to be sad about it, you should, too." — John Dutton