Dec. 22, 1932 — June 16, 2016

Henry James “Doc” or “Horse” Meachum III, 83, of Paw Paw, Michigan, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2016, at Wings of Hope Hospice in Allegan.

He was born Dec. 22, 1932, in Benton Harbor, the son of Henry James II & Helena Frances (Miska) Meachum.

He graduated from Hartford High School and Michigan State University Veterinary school. On Oct. 29, 1955, he was married to Patsy Jean Moran. After graduating from MSU he returned to Hartford where he practiced Veterinary medicine for over 30 years in Hartford and Coloma.

He moved to Sister Lakes, Michigan, and later retired to Aventura, Florida, where Henry taught high school biology and chemistry at Miami Beach High School. They then moved to Tucson, Arizona, returning to Three Mile Lake in Paw Paw for the summers.

Like his father and grandfather before him, Henry was an avid horseman, who taught horsemanship skills to many young people at his riding stable on Paw Paw Lake in Coloma and Dewey Lake riding stable in Sister Lakes. During his lifetime he served as President of Michiana VMA and President of Kalamazoo VMA, and the Hartford Township Board  He was also a member of the AVMA and the Hartford United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Patsy Meachum, four children: Virginia Meachum of Margate, Florida, Henry James Meachum IV of Paw Paw, Michigan, Patti Jo (Denis) Huffman of Marshall, Michigan, and Daniel Meachum of Hartford, Michigan; four grandchildren:  Jami (Leibering) Mabb of Roselle Park, New Jersey, Thomas Leibering of Milltown, New Jersey, Alyssa (Matthew) VanAken of Saratoga, Wyoming, and Miranda Meachum of Lansing, Michigan; two great grandchildren: Bryar Lynn VanAken and Gable James VanAken of Saratoga, Wyoming; a twin sister, Jeanne Koebel of Berrien Springs, Michigan.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marjorie Simmons of Yorba Linda, California.

Henry has been cremated.  There will be a celebration of his life on Saturday, June 25, 2016 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Hartford United Methodist Church.  Friends and relatives are invited to attend with their favorite stories of Doc’s life to share at 3:30 with food served at 5:30. Interment at Maple Hill Cemetery in Hartford.  Donations may be made to Wings of Hope Hospice, 550 Linn Street, Allegan, Michigan, or the Hartford United Methodist Church.