Dr. John Douglas McCarroll DVM

Dr. John Douglas McCarroll, DVM, 72, of Pilot Point, TX, passed away Monday, October 6, 2025 in Houston, TX. John was born March 29, 1953 in Borger, TX to George Fentress and Patricia Ann (Mackey) McCarroll. John married Jeanne Burger in Norman, OK on August 12, 1973.
John graduated from Pampa High School in 1971, where he was class president for three years, co-captain of the football team, and Mr. PHS. John attended Texas A&M University for pre-veterinary studies and was a member of M1 Medical Company. In 1974, he proceeded to the full Texas A&M veterinary program, graduating in 1977. John put himself through college by working in construction, railway, diagnostic lab, and at the university dairy.
His internship was in Oklahoma State and that is where he discovered his desire to work with large animals. He became so good at colic surgery that the doctors would let him perform it on his own.
In 1979, John moved to Pilot Point, TX to be in equine country. That October he opened his veterinary clinic taking any business he could, whether it involved small animals, cattle, horses, or breeding services. John was one of the first to embrace and advance the use of embryo and stem cell treatment in the equine industry.
John was always a student, constantly pursuing his knowledge and continuing his education to learn as much as he could. He found his passion and calling as a "mechanic," bringing the horses back to their best form while never compromising their integrity or well-being.
He did not keep his knowledge to himself but continually trained other veterinarians to help them better their craft. John taught and mentored countless interns who came through his clinic and some even stayed at his home during their training.
His expertise spanned all disciplines in the equine industry. While it is impossible to count all his accolades or the number of horses he helped reach championship titles, those honors were never what mattered to him. John treated every animal with the same care and dedication, regardless of their status. Whether it was a Kentucky Derby contender, a Run for the Million competitor, a Pink Buckle barrel racer, an NFR qualifier, a Futurity hopeful, or a beloved backyard horse-his treatment knew no bounds.
A veterinarian friend wrote to John's wife Jeanne – "Dr. John McCarroll, a great but quiet innovator in veterinary medicine. He treated hundreds of equine athletes with innovative use of stem cells when others had given up – more than any equine veterinarian in the world. He was kind but bold. Not afraid to try new methods of use of stem cells to treat serious injuries and horses with no hope. He truly cured a serious spine injury in a young, injured jumper by injecting stem cells into his spine. He treated the untreatable hamstring tears in muscles in cutting horses. He cured serous autoimmune skin diseases with stem cells. He listened carefully, was amazing at visual and imaging diagnosis, and then applied these tools with precision and care."
Though all of John's accomplishments as a doctor were remarkable, his greatest pride was his role as husband and father. He always had his priorities right as he never missed games for his boys, Jordan's gymnastics meets and any of Josh's reigning competitions.
John never missed an opportunity to brag on his children or grandchildren. He would tell anyone who would listen all about his family. To John, affectionately known as Jeeper, this was his greatest accomplishment.
His favorite place was on his back patio at the Alamo with his family, grilling something delicious, and sipping wine with his loved ones.
John is survived by his wife, Jeanne of Pilot Point, TX; four sons, J. T. McCarroll and wife Sara of Prosper, TX, Matt Williams and wife Jessica of Blanchard, OK, Jake McCarroll and wife Cristen of Katy, TX, and Josh McCarroll of Dallas, TX; daughter, Jordan McCarroll of Dallas, TX; eight grandchildren, Kynleigh McCarroll, Kyleigh McCarroll, Kamryn McCarroll, Haley Williams, John Wayne Williams, Chloe McCarroll, Jaxon McCarroll, and Jacob McCarroll; two brothers, Duncan McCarroll and wife Karis of San Antonio, TX and James Dennis McCarroll and wife Karen of Centerville, TX; two brothers-in-law, Steven Burger and wife Denise of Tulsa, OK and Thomas Culberson and wife Joanne of Victoria, TX; sister-in-law, Trina McCarroll of Blanchard, OK; and several nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.
John was preceded in death by his parents, George and Patricia; and brother, David McCarroll.
Visitation will be held 4:30PM-6:30PM, Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Slay Memorial Chapel in Aubrey, TX. The funeral service will be held at 4:30PM, Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Midway Church in Pilot Point, TX with Rick Skaggs officiating. Online condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com.
Donations may be made in John's memory to Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation via mail at 8104 Exchange Drive, Austin, TX 78754, online at www.tvmf.org/Donate, or by phone at (512) 452-4224.
Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.