Jack Leigh Eidson

1922 - 2014

Jack Leigh Eidson, M.D., 91, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 15, 2014, in Weatherford, to join his beloved wife, Wanda, in the arms of the Lord. Memorial service: 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 606 Mockingbird Lane, Weatherford. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family desires that memorials be sent to Grace First Presbyterian Church of Weatherford, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America or a charity of choice. "Dr. Jack," as he was affectionately known, was born Aug. 26, 1922, in Greenville, S.C., to Charles George Eidson (1887-1961) and Margaret Edna Leigh Eidson (1887-1961). 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 Corps with duty in Houston, San Antonio, Indianapolis and Denver. 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, which included surgery, ER, psychiatry, OB-Gyn, pediatrics, geriatrics and, yes, house calls. This was also the generation of doctors who 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 manners. 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 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. Dr. Jack was also active in civic affairs, having served as president of the Weatherford Lions Club, the Cancer Society, 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 as Outstanding Citizen. 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. 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; one son, Scott Lee Eidson; and his daughter, Wanda Carroll Eidson Hobbs and her husband, Roy. Survivors: His son, Jack Leigh Eidson Jr. and wife, Judy, of Whitt; their daughter, Nicole Elizabeth Eidson Snider and husband, Dave, of Tempe, Ariz., 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; his daughter Carroll's sons, Christopher Stephen "Chris" Pipes of St. Petersburg, Fla., 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 stepdaughter, Angela Hobbs Archinal and husband, Jason, and their daughter, Tori of Kingwood, and her stepson, 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, Calif.; his son, Jon Keeling Eidson and wife, Lynne, of Fort Worth and his daughters, Martha Jane "Marti" Eidson Rosche and husband, Greg, of Olathe, Kan., Margaret Louise "Maggi" Eidson Seidler and husband, Brandon, of Fort Worth and their mother, Stephanie Lane Eidson; Lynne's son, Bryce Stanford Reed and wife, Catherine, of Shreveport, La.; and numerous nephews, nieces and loving friends world wide.