Brownwood News – Dr. John Oliver crafted beautiful smiles for over 30 years as Brownwood’s orthodontist. The community was saddened to hear of his sudden passing this week. Dr. Oliver’s practice can be considered a cornerstone in the community, with parents who were treated as teens bringing their own children to the same orthodontist.
“He loved what he did, he loved his patients and cared about them like they were family,” said Torri Lynn Choate, a Registered Dental Assistant with Dr. Oliver’s office. “He cared about their lives, not just their teeth.”
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Choate herself had seen Dr. Oliver for her orthodontic care when she was a teen.
“I’ve known Dr. Oliver since I was 14, he did my braces,” she said. Choate pursued a dental career and next summer would have been her 25th year working for Dr. Oliver. “He wasn’t just my boss, he was my friend. He was my family.”
Dr. Oliver passed away unexpectedly at his home earlier this week. Though his death was sudden, he had made preparations for the continued care of his patients should tragedy strike. A statement released by his practice reads:
Before his death, Dr. Oliver, made extensive arrangements to ensure a smooth transition in continued quality care for all patients.
The practice is now being managed by members of Dr. Oliver’s Practice Coverage Group. These orthodontists are extremely qualified and use treatment techniques very similar to those used by Dr. Oliver.
Because of this advance planning, all treatment will continue uninterrupted until another orthodontist is located to permanently take over the practice.
“Everything has gone very smoothly, we’ll still open next week as planned,” said Torri Lynn Choate. “We shouldn’t be canceling appointments or anything like that. The people helping us through this have been amazing, and everything is in place.”
Dr. Oliver had many interests and was a published author. He was fluent in German and Spanish. He was artistic and was skilled in furniture making, knife making, photography and guitar. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Oliver John enjoyed hunting, traveling, scuba diving, snow skiing, and hiking.
Dr. Oliver was also well known for his generosity.
“He was always willing to give, he bought tons of Girl Scouts cookies, sponsorships, he always recognized the importance of giving back and didn’t turn anyone away,” said Choate.
A memorial service will be held at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church in Brownwood on Friday, July 7th at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Dr. Oliver’s name to 22 Kill, an organization that provides mental health aid to military men and women in the United States Military.