Memorial planned for Dr. Billy V. Hall

GRAVETTE — A permanent memorial for Dr. Billy V. Hall is a project planned at Ozarks Community Hospital in Gravette.

Dr. Hall was instrumental in getting the Gravette Medical Center Hospital built in 1975 and continued to work there until 2006. He was admired and will be remembered by all.

Employees at OCH recently formed a committee to construct the memorial to honor Dr. Hall. An open invitation was held for all employees and they gathered for weekly meetings. The committee discussed many different ideas, formulated a plan and created a proposal. OCH will begin the construction of Dr. Hall’s Memory Garden this fall.

“Our wish is to build a lasting memorial to Dr. Hall. Our ambition is to build something with our own hands, created with our own blood, sweat and tears, to make the memorial from us to him,” said Angie King, OCH Clinic Nursing Supervisor.

Memory Garden committee members includeAngie King, Morgan Black, Amy Garrett, Joann Nees, Ginny Gillming, Tammy Hayes, Julia Himsl, Bryce Graves, Janette Davis, Myra Ahrens, Eryn Cantrell, Darla Evans, Dr. David Tucker, Dr. William Webb, Dr. Marcus Poemoceah, Dr. Nancy Jones and Marie Kane.

Dr. Hall’s Memory Garden will be located by the main entrance to the hospital. It will consist of a rock garden, flower beds, a fountain and a plaque in remembrance of Dr. Hall. Labor and construction of the memorial will be done by employees volunteering their time and talent.

There is no official date set for the completion of the construction but OCH will have a dedication ceremony when it is completed. The ceremony will be open to the public. If anyone wishes to see the proposal for the memory garden, please contact Morgan Black at 344-6464 or Angie King at 344-6537.

Donations are being accepted for the construction of Dr. Hall’s Memory Garden. If you would like to contribute, tax deductible donations can be made out to the Gravette Community Foundation with ‘Dr. Hall Memorial’ in the subject line. Those can be submitted to Morgan Black at the hospital. Please contact Morgan Black or Angie King with any questions regarding the memorial.