Obit of Wagner, Dr. Taylor Dan - Pontotoc County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Rita Floyd 12 Sep 2010 Return to Pontotoc County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pontotoc/pontotoc.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::NOT LISTED Ada Evening News, Ada, OK, Pontotoc County Sunday, March 15, 2009 DR. TAYLOR DAN WAGNER Dr. Taylor Dan Wagner, of Benton, Arkansas, died Thursday, March 12, 2009, at his home following a nine year battle with cancer. He was born February 17, 1937, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to the late Elmer John Wagner and the late Mary Claudell Wagner. Always known as Dan, he grew up in Ada, Oklahoma, and attended Ada High School. He was a member of the Cougars Football Team and as their quarterback led them to the state championship his senior year. He was an All American and elected to the All State Team. Turning down an opportunity to attend Yale University on a full scholarship, he chose instead to attend college with his best friend Dan Northcutt at Oklahoma State University and played football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys football team. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and the "O" club. After graduation, he was accepted into the University of Oklahoma Medical School and in 1963 completed an internship and residency in general surgery at University Hospital in Oklahoma City. In 1968, he entered the United States Air Force and was Chief of Surgery at Chanute A.F.B. in Illinois. In 1970, he moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, sharing a practice with colleague and good friend Dr. Lynn Roberts. He was a member of the hospital board and subsequently elected to the City Council. He is acknowledged with a plaque bearing his name for having been instrumental with the expansion and building of the hospital now in Stillwater. In 1975, he joined Dr. Lanny Anderson, Dr. Billy Stout and Dr. David Snyder in Oklahoma City where he remained in practice for the next eleven years. He then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be closer to his sons and served as Medical Director of Blue Cross Blue Shield. In 1987, he married Jeannie Marie of Del City, Oklahoma, and returned to practicing medicine in the state of Arkansas. He lived in Benton, Arkansas, for the remaining years of his life practicing medicine with the late Dr. Donald Viner and Dr. Quinn Baber. He was on staff at Saline Memorial Hospital and Chief of Staff for one term. In 2000, he expanded his practice to include Malvern, Arkansas, and was on staff at Hot Springs County Hospital. At Malvern, he enjoyed a special relationship with his O.R. crew and E.R. nightshift nursing staff. Diagnosed with cancer soon after opening his practice in Malvern, Dr. Wagner continued to work as he waged war on the illness that threatened his life. Because of this challenge and hardship his second family in Malvern came to play an important part of his life and made his remaining professional years exceptional in every way. He enjoyed a twenty year friendship with his office manager Nancy Eller of Hot Springs whom he loved and felt blessed and fortunate to have by his side for so long. Dan was a strong believer in the ability of human beings to change and reach a higher, more just and ethical way of being. He dedicated himself to being the very best he could be. He earned the respect and admiration of many by handling his illness with strength courage and grace. He is extremely grateful to the physicians who helped to keep cancer from winning for the last nine years, Dr. Scott Stern, Dr. Michael Talbert and Dr. Marianne Harrington. Without their help and determination, he would have missed some important and cherished family events. Their assistance was instrumental in giving him such an unheard of victory over cancer. The bible says good men must die but death cannot kill their names. Dan leaves behind his wife of over twenty one years, Jeannie Marie Wagner; four sons, Eric Wagner and his wife Renae of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jason Wagner and his wife Brooke of Denver, Colorado, Josh Wagner of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Justin Wagner of Little Rock, Arkansas. He is the grandfather of eight treasured grandchildren. He is also survived by his cousin Carolyn McGuire and husband Robert of Yantis, Texas; father-in-law, Howard Dean Owens, Sr. of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; mother-in-law, Suzanne Gilmore of Lady Lakes Florida; six brothers-in-law; four sisters-in-law; four nephews; three nieces; and one great nephew. Niece, Summer Johnson, of Midwest City, Oklahoma, was a true gift and held a special place in her Uncle Dan's heart. He also leaves behind a friend for over fifty years and the mother of sons, Eric and Jason, Mary Ann Gibson of Stillwater, Oklahoma. A memorial service in celebration of the life of our loved one will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, March 27, 2009, at Griffin Leggett Forest Hills Funeral Home, 10200 Hwy 5 North, Alexander, Arkansas (501-455-1067). In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Saline Memorial Hospice or any A.L.S. organization of your choosing in recognition of all those still fighting for a cure. To sign Dan's online guest book, visit www.griffinleggettforesthills.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Pontotoc County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pontotoc/pontotoc.html