Misty Dawn Woodard's Obituary
Dr. Misty Woodard Arrison, 43, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, left this earth peacefully on Friday, November 1, 2024, and her battle with colon cancer was finally over.
Misty was born on April 24, 1981, to Woody and Rhonda Woodard in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A frightful occasion, she came into this world just as stubborn as she left it. Misty graduated from Westmoore High School, where her academic achievements numbered into the obscene. She became a National Merit Finalist in the 10th grade and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1999, earning a Regents Scholarship after obtaining a near perfect ACT score.
After high school, Misty attended the University of Oklahoma, where she also studied abroad in France. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with three degrees-French, Anthropology, and Zoology. In 2006, Misty was accepted into the OU College of Medicine. While there, she was proud to serve as Editor-in-Chief of an art and medical journal. Upon graduation, she entered a pediatric residency at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During her residency, Misty received the Charles Cooper Award of Excellence, served as Chief Resident, and-perhaps most importantly-won the prestigious Louie's Bar & Grill Live Event Trivia Championship in 2012, indeed all those years of college had finally paid off.
In 2015, Misty found her true calling as a pediatrician, practicing outpatient pediatrics at Warren Clinic in Tulsa Hills. Never one for convention, she was often seen in the halls in full costume and character, always eager to see the look on her tiny patients faces. Over the course of six years, she cared for more than 1,500 families and their children. She often referred to these children as "her kids" because she felt as if they were her own. Misty was especially proud to have accepted more Medicaid patients than any other physician in the city, ensuring care for those who needed it most.
Known for her kindness, patience, and compassion, Misty also dedicated six years volunteering at the Xavier Medical Clinic, a free clinic in Tulsa. She considered this service one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. More than anything, including Halloween, Misty loved being a doctor.
Among the people who knew her best, Misty was known for many things: for singing loudly-never quite off-key, but certainly never caring either way; for elaborate costume design, and refusing to accept mediocrity when it came to Halloween displays; for being a Disney movie snob, and a connoisseur of haunted houses; for enthusiastically biting off more than she could chew; and for loving adventure, even when it led to disaster, which she always found to be the best part.
She was also known for giving strangers her time and attention, for offering support when she barely had strength of her own, for loving her cats, her dog, and her family fiercely, for giving her whole heart to a cause, and giving all that she had to all those around her.
Misty's life was one filled with passion, love, and laughter. A happy life, well-lived.
Misty is preceded in death by her father, Woody Woodard, and her brother, Tony Faubion. She is survived by her beloved husband, Chris Arrison; her mother, Rhonda Branscum Woodard; her brother, Jon Faubion and his wife Debra; her sister, Crystal Woodard Deen and husband Aron; her nieces Morgan, Jordan, Adelyn, and her nephew Wyatt. She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and many who loved her dearly.
In lieu of small flowers, Misty would like really big flowers-and for everyone to save a bug or rescue an animal in her memory. Most importantly, she would urge you to take care of yourselves and schedule your colonoscopy. Misty dedicated her life to saving others, and she believed that if her story could save even one life, then everything she went through would have been worth it. So, please, tell her story.
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