Dr. Jean Miller Medlock

Dr. Jean Miller Medlock, 79, of Alma, Ark., passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017 at a local hospital. She attended the University of Houston College of Optometry where in 1966 she was the first woman to graduate from the College of Optometry. In 1968, she opened her practice in downtown Alma and practiced in Alma with the Eye Group until she retired 49 ½ years later. She served as Executive Secretary of the Southwest Council of Optometry, on the Arkansas Council of Optometry Board, served on the Stepping Stone School Board since its beginning in 1972, was named Arkansas Optometrist of the year in 1989 and 1996 and was involved in many other activities such as the Good Samaritan Clinic, Crawford County Parks Board and Alma Friends of the Library. In 2010, she received the Lifetime of Excellence Award from the Arkansas Optometric Association. She was a member and elder of Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, Ark. She was a member of the Crawford County EHC Alma Chapter, The Methodist Village Auxiliary. She coached girl's softball for many years in Alma. Although she was not from Alma, she adopted Alma as hers and Alma adopted her. Dr. Medlock was born Jan. 27, 1938 in Joplin, Mo., to the late Edward and Nettie (Johnson) Miller. She was also preceded in death by her husband Larry Medlock, two sisters, Virginia Patterson and her twin, Jessie Suhor and a brother, Eddie Miller. Memorial service will be 11 a.m., Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 at Central Presbyterian Church. Cremation is under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma. Burial of cremains will be at the U.S. National Cemetery at a later date. Survivors include two sisters, Jeanette Loris of Fayetteville, Ark., and Judy Loux of Fort Smith, Ark., and two brothers, Harry and Richard Miller both of Sallisaw, Okla., plus many nieces and nephews. The family will visit with friends Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017 from 3-5 p.m., at Ocker Chapel of Alma, 917 Hwy. 64 East, Alma, Ark. Memorial contributions may be made to Stepping Stone School, P.O. Box 2389, Alma, Ark., 72921 or Central Presbyterian Church, 2901 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith, Ark., 72901. To place an online tribute please visit www.ockerfuneralhome.com.