Clement V. Cottom Jr., DVM, 78, passed away, Friday, November 4, 2011. Doc was born January 15, 1933, in Stillwater, OK to Clement V. Cottom Sr. and Mabel (Ennis) Cottom. He graduated from Liberty Mounds High School in 1951, Oklahoma A&M College in 1954, and Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1958.

He married Cleo Shackelford in August 1954. Graduation, five children and working for area veterinarians followed. In 1962, Cottom Veterinary Clinic in Bixby was established, and was still an active practice until Doc's death.

He was proud to be part of the Bixby business community, was a charter member of the Bixby Lion's Club, worked on the Green Corn Festival planning - in later years dressing in a Santa suit to promote 7c's Christmas Trees, and most of the FFA Chapters gained their "hands-on" experience under his guidance.

Professionally, he was a lifetime member of the OSU Alumni Association, the Northeast Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association, the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

He is known to his family as someone who was willing to play hard, after you had worked hard! Doc and Cleo built carnival booths at school, held hayrides and snow sled rides, led fundraisers, took the Girl Scouts to Six Flags in a "chicken coop", and most of the Liberty kids will remember skating in the basement. The ranching operation included cattle, swine, sheep and horses - cutting and baling hay in the summer, then feeding that hay in the winter.

Whether you know him as Clemmie, CV, Clem, Papa Doc or simply Doc, he loved his family and friends, and will be missed by all.

"Doc" was preceded in death by his wife, Cleo Cottom on December 23, 1995 and by 1 daughter; Dee Cottom on April 8, 2008.

He is survived by 2 daughters; Vicki Cottom Linker of Liberty Mounds & Sandi Cottom of Choctaw, OK, 2 sons; Jerry Cottom and wife Cheryl, of Morrison, OK & Chet Cottom and wife DeAnn, of Liberty Mounds, 6 grandchildren; Nikki and husband Dusty Epperson, of Bixby, Dustin and wife Becky, of Locust Grove, OK, Jerod and wife Jessica, of Morrison, OK, Kelsey of Stillwater, Colby of Liberty Mounds & Cacey of Liberty Mounds, 4 great-grandchildren; Lane Linker of Bixby, Destiny Epperson of Bixby, Colton Epperson of Bixby & Chloe of Locust Grove, 1 sister; Patsy Smith and husband David, of Choctaw, Mick Cottom and wife Joyce, of Broken Arrow & Bill Cottom and wife Diane of Tulsa as well as numerous, nieces, nephews, other relatives and good friends.