SMC dedicates Dr. Janet Bumgarner Memorial Patio

Dr. Janet Bumgarner’s legacy will forever live on in the Shenandoah community.

That’s the message passed along by Shenandoah Medical Center officials, as well as friends and family of Dr. Bumgarner at a special memorial dedication ceremony Wednesday afternoon. The hospital dedicated an outdoor patio area outside of the SMC Clinic in Dr. Bumgarner’s name. She passed away in August of 2016 at the age of 61. Among those speaking at the ceremony was Dr. Todd Isaacson. He stated that Dr. Bumgarner is someone who is missed by everyone.

“She worked at the Shenandoah Medical Center from 1986 to 2016, almost 30 years,” Isaacson said. “She became one of the most beloved providers in the community. I think many of the residents of Shenandoah know her as the doctor that delivered them. Many other residents know her as a trusted friend and many of us consider her a part of our family.”

One common theme from those who spoke was Dr. Bumgarner’s loving personality and great sense of humor. Dr. Floyd Jones noted Dr. Bumgarner had a distinct laugh that made everyone’s day better.

“She would just absolutely light up a room with it,” Jones said. “I wish I could repeat it for you. In the morning, we often heard it in the quarters of the clinic. When she would giggle or laugh while stopping at a nursing station or doctor’s office, we just felt better and more secure.”

Dr. Jones added that Janet had many interests in life.

“The interests she and I would discuss included sports, wildlife, bird watching, and she always liked to speak about stargazing with her family,” Jones said. “Janet was also a knitter, and to me it was just fascinating.”

Dr. Bumgarner earned her bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Nebraska and completed her internships and residency programs at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army medical Center in Fort Gordon, Georgia. She served as the Page County Coroner, was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shenandoah and was a past chapter president for PEO — a philanthropic organization supporting the education of women. Her husband, Donald, is a longtime family physician at SMC and remains at the hospital.

Hospital officials were thankful of the very large crowd that attended the dedication ceremony. A reception was held in the Hartman Room following the memorial.