FOND FAREWELL
Community comes out to celebrate Roper's retirement
By Don Wallace Bullard Banner News

Above, Oran L. Ferrell, III, right, presents his aunt Dr. Marjorie Roper with presents as part of her retirement reception held Saturday in Bullard. Dr. Roper began her medical practice 59 years ago in Bullard. Dr. Roper, at right, with her extended family, was honored in a retirement reception held at the former Ferrell drug store which also served as her medical offices for years.

Almost 60 years of caring came back full circle to Dr. Marjorie Ferrell Roper on Saturday.

After dispensing equal measures of hugs, medical knowledge and common sense since 1946, all the love and devotion was returned by her friends and family at a reception for the retiring physician.

The reception, held fitting enough in the old Ferrell Roper drug store/doctor's office building, was overflowing with hundreds wanting to say thanks to the kindly doctor.

But like in many small towns, Dr. Roper wasn't just a doctor to cure your ills. To many her words of wisdom were taken to heart and heeded to the letter.

"I'm not retiring, I will be busy at the museum," Dr. Roper told the group, each one of them knowing that the doctor was not ready to give up activity and take up a rocker on the porch. The old drugstore is already a shrine of sorts with photos of the medical practice, which chronicles the growth of Bullard.

Dr. Roper said she would also be assisting daughter-inlaw Linda Roper, R.N. with her clinic. The clinic will be housed near the same location Dr. Roper began her practice June 12, 1946.

She said she knew even before she graduated valedictorian of Bullard High School, that she wanted to be a doctor.

Dr. Roper graduated from Tyler Junior College, the University of Texas at Austin and the UT Medical Branch in Galveston. After an internship at Parkland Hospital in Dallas she worked for the Texas Department of Welfare Division and the Veteran's Hospital in Mississippi. She returned to Texas to work for almost 20 years at Rusk State Hospital and had her own practice in Bullard with a certification in Family Practice.

Bullard City Manager Larry Morgan read from a proclamation written by Bullard Mayor Connie Vaughan which proclaimed Oct. 7, 2006 "Marjorie Ferrell Roper, MD Day" in Bullard.

In the document it detailed the doctor's accomplishments and contributions to her church and the people of her community. It also said, "she would prescribe a milk shake or a fountain drink as easily as the latest prescription drug, both of which could be found at the clinic of Ferrell Drug Store and Soda Fountain."

Dr. Marjorie Roper listens as Bullard City Manager Larry Morgan reads from a proclamation highlighting her 59 year medical career. Dr. Roper was honored in a retirement reception held at the former Ferrell drug store which also served as her medical offices for years.

Dr. Roper, clad in a purple suit, blushed at the superlatives and compliments directed toward her and often covered her face with her hand, embarrassed by the attention.

Bubba Ferrell also presented the doctor with several presents, including a VISA card which Dr. Roper said would be used for a trip to California.

Dr. Roper said she has gone a few places in her life, outside of Bullard. But it is the people of Bullard which she will remember as she winds down from a full practice.

"I'll be doing work with all my paperwork throughout the years," Dr. Roper said. "None of my files have been thrown out. They are all upstairs and I will be looking them over. I have had some interesting cases over the years."

Dr. Roper recounted back to the days when office visits were $2 and in that less complicated

time, medical information on patients was recorded on 3x5 index cards.

"I've treated four generations from the same family in Bullard, in some rare cases, five generations," Dr. Roper said with a proud smile.

The years of being a country doctor also required a fine sense of humor from Dr. Roper. She laughed as she recounted a story about a former patient.

"One day this big, strapping man came up to me in Brookshires," Dr. Roper said. "He asked if I knew him and I told him 'no.' He said, 'you ought to remember me, you delivered me in your office 42 years ago!'"

Dr. Roper turned to him with a wry grin and said, "Well last time I saw you, you looked a little smaller."