Dr. John D. Foote

1929 - 2012

John Dennis Foote was born on November 24, 1929 on the family homestead in Caney, KS to Dennis John Foote and Lula May (Hollingworth) Foote. Surrounded by the family he loved so much, he entered God's Heavenly Kingdom on March 6, 2012 after lengthy illness.
Growing up on the family farm during the Great Depression, John was instilled early in childhood with the importance of family and the value of hard work.
After graduating from Caney High School, he worked his way through Kansas State University, graduating in 1953 and earning the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Upon graduating from Veterinary School, John enlisted in the United States Air Force and proudly served his country as an officer during the Korean War. While stationed in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada he met the love of his life, Audrey P. Bragg and they were united in marriage on July 21, 1955.
After John received an honorable discharge from the Air Force, he and Audrey moved to Dewey, OK and established their family home as well as Dewey Veterinary Clinic. There, he embarked on a long career of providing compassionate care to large and small animals. And with Audrey, he raised four children and also embraced his role as a wise and respected community leader.
John was an active supporter of innumerable community events and was an enthusiastic mentor to a generation of youth in Future Farmers of America, 4-H Club, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA and youth soccer. He was a man of few words, but his kindness and generosity spoke volumes within the community. Throughout his adult life, John opened his heart, his home and his wallet to those less fortunate, down on their luck, or otherwise marginalized by society or circumstance. In doing so he not only made a positive and lasting difference in the lives he touched, but also provided a striking and unambiguous example of how one should live his or her life.
After raising their family in Dewey, John and Audrey spent the early years of their retirement in Bella Vista Arkansas where John continued to be active in the community as well as in St. Theodore's Episcopal Church. He also became an avid golfer in retirement and true to his nature, to both work hard and try to excel at anything he undertook, John eventually capped his golf career with a hole-in-one.
John was a life-long and active member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Bartlesville, OK where he taught Sunday school and also served on the vestry. Although deeply religious, John kept his faith in a quiet, humble manner--illustrating the tenets of that faith by the way he treated others and by the honest, reverent and respectful way he lived his life. This was particularly evident during the past 5 years when John tackled challenging health issues.
In an instant, John's independence and ability to help and provide for others was abruptly taken from him and he was forced to accept help with even the simple tasks of daily living. Remarkably, rather than succumbing to anger or bitterness, John instead found a way to use his circumstances to help and teach those around him. He never complained; he never felt sorry for himself; he never became angry. He was constantly optimistic and cheerful and he was unfailingly appreciative of even the smallest assistance he received. The unwavering grace John demonstrated as he dealt with his illness proved a moving and powerful lesson and was a valuable gift to anyone fortunate enough to witness it.
John was also a loyal supporter of Kansas State University and a steadfast fan of the Kansas State Wildcats. K-State Purple was his favorite color and always made him proud.
Throughout a long life well lived, John never wavered from the principles which guided his life and he remained true to those things that he most valued--God, Country, Family, Kansas State University, and the Animals he so skillfully treated.
John is survived by his wife, Audrey, of the home, 3 daughters and their husbands, Debbie Gordon (Dr. Rick Gordon) Bartlesville, OK; Cheryl Bridendolph (Bill Bridendolph) League City, TX; Dr. Patty Foote (James Vail) Bartlesville, OK, and one son, John Dennis Foote, III (Skip), Bartlesville, OK. He is survived by 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren: Dr. Sarah Gordon (Joel Bernstein), Bartlesville, OK; Catherine Gordon, Ashland, MO; Andrew Gordon, Stillwater, OK; Hannah Gordon, Stillwater, OK; Will Bridendolph, Oklahoma City, OK; Audra Bridendolph, Stillwater, OK and Spencer Bridendolph, League City, TX. Great-grandchildren Aman and Demekech Bernstein, Bartlesville, OK.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Cleo LaJune (Foote) Campbell and Lou Ella (Foote) Quist.
A celebration of John's life will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church with family and friends on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 11:00AM.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to: Kansas State University Foundation for College of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship Memorial College of Veterinary Medicine Attention: Developmental Alumni (please include John's name in the memo) 103 Trotter Hall Manhattan, KS 66506 or St. Luke's Episcopal Church (please include John's name in the memo) 210 East 9th Street Bartlesville, OK 74003