Dr. O. L. "Buddy" Ferrell Jr.

O.L. “Buddy” Ferrell died peacefully at his home Saturday after a lengthy illness. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home following a private family burial. He was born Sept. 6, 1922 in the family home in Bullard to Hattie Holmes and O.L. Ferrell Sr. The home was behind the drugstore bearing his father’s name in downtown Bullard. He graduated from Bullard High School in 1938 and went on to attend Tyler Junior College, Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin. After one semester at UT, he was drafted into the Army Air Corps in January 1943. Prior to his deployment, he married Jo Watson in Ontario, California in the First Baptist Church at noon on Christmas day in 1943. He trained as a B-17 pilot in Texas and California. He went on to Mississippi and Florida prior to his assignment in the 384th Bombardment group squadron based in Grafton-Underwood, England in January 1943. While stationed in England, he and his crew flew 22 missions over Germany against overwhelming odds on each mission. He returned home when the war was over in December 1945 to see his 7-month-old daughter Sherry for the first time. He completed his medical studies at UTMB in Galveston and following an internship in Shreveport he returned to Bullard to practice general medicine with his sister Marjorie Roper for 8 years. He returned to Shreveport for a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and then returned to Tyler in 1962 to begin the career he loved. He delivered more than 8,000 babies over a span of more than 40 years. He loved them all. All the mothers loved him. In semi-retirement, he enjoyed a post as medical director at the Hide-A-Way Lake ETMC cardiac rehab center. His true love was his wife Jo, of 71 years and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their marriage was a love story in action for their family in practice and affection. They were role models of what a marriage should be. One of the family’s most precious moments each Christmas Day was watching them exchange anniversary gifts with hugs and kisses and tears of joy. He adored his family and showered his affection liberally in the form of encouraging words, gifts, hugs and time spent at home and beyond. His example of a life of faith, a faithful husband and a strong work ethic would have been enough of a legacy to his family but he didn’t stop there. He knew how to have fun. Spontaneity was the zest of his life, and he showed his family how to dart off in an instant on an adventure and throw caution to the wind. When Buddy and Jo finished medical school, they couldn’t afford to move their furniture and decided instead to sell it for $100 and take the money for a vacation to Monterrey, Mexico. This was the beginning of many grand adventures. Buddy will be greatly missed on this earth, but it is our belief he arrived in heaven to a greeting of “welcome my son.” Buddy and Jo were longtime residents of the Emerald Bay community and were founding members of Emerald Bay Community Church. Buddy is survived by his wife Jo; children, Sherry Adams (Dana), Oran Ferrell (Paula), Pam Shillinglaw; grandchildren, Nelson Clyde (Elizabeth), Andrew Clyde (Leigh), Anna Malone (Brandon), John Clyde (Sarah), of Kent, Washington, Caroline Wall (Cullen), of Dallas, Corby Ferrell (Meredith), of Dallas, Aaron Paul, Taylor Harper (T), of Austin, Patrick Buckley, of Austin; great-grandchildren, Sarah Clyde, Cal Clyde, Rachel Clyde, Jamie Clyde, Ferrell Clyde, Slade Clyde, Claire Malone, Emma Malone, Morgan Wall, Sutton Wall, Madison Ferrell, Gigi Ferrell, Addison Paul, Tommy Harper and Ferrell Harper. He also is survived by his sister, Dr. Marjorie Roper, of Bullard; and numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. The family would like to express their gratitude to Buddy’s caregivers at Genesis HomeCare, Genesis Hospice Care and Genesis Extra Care, including Maylene Brooks, Stephena Clark, Kendra and Macky Hall and Star Kelly. Psalms 16:11: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” KJV The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be considered for the Dr. O.L. “Buddy” and Jo Ferrell endowed scholarship at the University of Texas at Tyler, the neo-natal care unit at Trinity Mother Frances hospital and ETMC, or Emerald Bay Community Church general fund. To view online, go to www.tylerpaper.com.

Dr. O. L. "Buddy" Ferrell Jr.

September 6, 1922 - January 24, 2015