The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Med Journal Feb 2020_Final | Page 19

PEOPLE+EVENTS 18 Obituary SALEM - Dr. Michael Neill Moody, 73, of Salem, Arkansas passed away December 15, 2019, in Salem. Michael was born August 18, 1946, in Batesville, the third of six children of John Jr. and Ruby Faye Moody. An above average student and avid athlete, when he wasn’t on the basketball court or ball field, Michael was in the Fulton County Library – so much so that if he was late for supper, his mom would call the librari- an for him to come home. Michael graduated from Salem High School and attended Arkansas College in Batesville on a basketball scholarship. When ball practices interfered with pre- med biology lab, he transferred to Arkansas State University to pursue his dream of attending medical school and becoming a family doctor in his hometown of Salem. And he did just that, graduating from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and practicing in Salem for more than 45 years. A board certified family practice doctor until 2013, “Doc Moody” is best known for delivering and taking care of multi-generational families. In addition to practicing medicine, he loved skiing the mountains of Colorado, the Arkansas Razorbacks, and hunting every- thing that flew. He was known statewide for his “Doves on the Deck” party every year on opening day of dove season, but quail was his favorite bird to hunt. In fact, he was often blamed for the decline in their population in Arkansas. As a physician, Michael served in a number of leadership roles with the Arkansas Medical Society, the Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians, and their nation- al affiliates. He was Medical Director of the Arkansas Foundation of Medical Care for 20 years and continued as a board member until his illness. But of all his many accomplishments and accolades, his true passion was medicine. His favorite thing to do was take care of his patients, in his clinic as well as in Little Rock. He was known at the State Capitol as the champion for rural medicine, be- ing sought out by legislators and regulators for his expertise. As one of the first four graduates of UAMS’s Family Practice Residency, he spent his entire career advocating for patients. One of his proudest successes was the passage of Any Willing Provider legislation, which grants patients the freedom to see the doctor of their choice. Volunteer for the 2020 Doctor of the Day The Arkansas Medical Society will sponsor the Doctor of the Day program for the 2020 fiscal session of the Arkansas legislature. The session convenes on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, and will continue for 30 days, but it can be extended one time for an additional 15 days by action of the legislature. Volunteers are needed each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only. The fiscal session committee schedule varies from the regular session in that, usually, only the Joint Budget Committee meets. Contact Laura Hawkins at 501-224-8937 or [email protected] if you have questions or would like to sign up. Space is limited. Michael is survived by his wife Barbara of Salem, three children, Scott Moody of Salem, Melissa Moody of Little Rock, and Karla Moody McBride of Kalama- zoo, MI; three grandchildren, Brice Allen Langston, Conner Marie McBride, and Maggie Mae McBride; 5 siblings, Sue Lackey (Louie) of Little Rock, Jerry Moody of Salem, Connie Bray (Sonny) of Salem, Johnny Moody (Rhonda) of Salem, and Steve Moody (Nancy) of Dalton; his nurse of 29 years Sheila Cochran, a slew of nieces and nephews, friends, colleagues, and hunting buddies Volume 116 • Number 8 february 2020 • 167