By Linda Narisi and the family of David Newbern

Dorothy Marie (Florida) Meyer was born August 17, 1926 and peacefully passed away at 95 on April 15, 2022.  Dorothy was a passionate member of the Ozark Society.  Dorothy was actively involved in the development of the Big Dam Bridge.  As an active conservationist she helped campaign for the Buffalo River to becoming the first National River.    She loved her many outdoor recreational adventures such as camping, hiking, RV-ing, flying fishing, cave exploration, to name a few.  Dorothy developed many lifelong buddies through the Ozark Society that share a common thread of enjoying life with one another. When the weather was not conducive to fair weather activities Dorothy and the gang (other Ozark Society members) would play all kinds of board/card games and feast on a gourmet meal mostly prepared by Chef Dorothy.

 

David Harton Newbern passed away on April 24, 2022. He was born on March 14, 1930, in Little Rock and raised in Hope where his mother, Mary Ellen Harton Newbern, taught ballet and his father, George Pierce Newbern, Jr. was a travelling dry goods salesman.

     He was quite comfortable growing up in the small southern town of Hope, Arkansas. So comfortable, in fact, that his mother told the story of a young five-year-old David walking down the street with no clothes on. She asked him, “David, what happened to your clothes?” To which he responded, “Got hot.” 

     He derived great satisfaction from his work as a radiologist. One of the seven founding partners of Radiology Associates, he was proud of being in the forefront in quality of service the group provided. He helped guide the group to always bring in the most up-to-date imaging technology and best-trained and specialized new doctors as the group expanded. As an example, the group installed one the first CT Scanners in the United States.

     After early retirement in 1987 he continued part time work as a ‘locum tenens’ radiologist, allowing him to travel and work all over the United States for several years. His never-ending curiosity led him to travel far and wide and make friends of fellow travelers all over the globe. He read voraciously, expanding on a lifelong love of history. He always enjoyed music and derived great pleasure listening to opera, classical, big band and jazz music.

     He was very much a family man, always present at family gatherings, plays, recitals and remaining close to extended family.  Though a shy and private person, once engaged in conversation he was fascinating company. 

     He pursued his interest in the outdoors with many weekends spent on the Buffalo River in the family cabin overlooking the river. Canoeing, fishing, hiking, hunting morel mushrooms and gathering water cress were activities he enjoyed sharing with his wife Bettyed and their children. He loved being out in nature, and was especially fascinated by large old trees; when travelling he would always seek out the local arboretum.