Veterinarian honored for more than 50 years of care to animals

DaR recognizes dr. Kathleen sexton for community support

Dr. Kathleen Sexton was recently recognized by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for a lifetime service award titled Women in American History for 53 years of service and support to the animal community.

DAR chapters, like the local Daughters of the American Revolution Palisade Chapter, are encouraged to choose a women to honor for the DAR Women in American History Award by taking into consideration women who have contributed or made a difference in their communities.

Remarkably, Sexton, née Reinhard, formerly of Bremerton, Washington, said she knew by age seven she wanted to become a veterinarian.

Her scholastic animal medicine journey started upon acceptance to Washington State University, a renowned school of veterinary scienc).

While at WSU, she met Jerome Sexton, also a student of veterinary medicine. Love blossomed and they married in 1968.

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Subsequently, husband and wife teamed together caring for both the small and large animal population.

Sexton’s timeline of service initially started in 1970 in Bishop, then made a circuitous route through Tehachapi, Bear Valley, Benton, and finally back to Bishop in 1977 until present where the Sextons setup Sierra Veterinary Clinic a 2640 West Line St. Bishop.

Sexton’s bio boasts a proud family of eight children, six sons and two daughters, four of which were home births.

Many of her children are as multi-talented as she.

In addition to animal husbandry, Sexton also is an accomplished artist dabbling in water color, oil, and pastel painting.

One would be visually rewarded by locating and taking in her wall murals, including one across from the former Joseph Bi-rite, another across from the Bishop Police Department and a third in Lone Pine.

For many years Sexton donated equestrian paintings for local fundraisers. Moreover, she has supported I-Care, a valuable local animal service.

Sadly, in 1998 Dr. Jerome Sexton passed away. Owing to love of her profession, Kathleen carried on business at her current location.

Sexton will be hanging up her hat in a several months. When asked what she would miss most and chiefly of what she was proud, she answered, “I am most proud of my

family and I will miss the animals.”

Sexton was known for compassion going above and beyond, including making house calls to pet owners and need and providing decades of animal care to animal lovers throughout the Owens Valley.

The Daughters of the local American Revolution Palisade Chapter are encouraging residents to join the organization in celebrating “this amazing woman and DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine).”

Sexton will be retiring in June of 2024.

Photo courtesy Calico Quilters For more than 30 years the Calico Quilters have made stockings for Northern Inyo Hospital, so every baby born between Thanksgiving and the New Year goes home as a holiday gift. Maternity ward nurses Christina Boctor, Liliana Schmitt and Lisa Bates welcome this year’s collection, from Calico Quilters’ members Margaret De Palma and Marty Voght.

Photo by Rhonda Aihara Dr. Kathleen Sexton, foreground, with Carrie Earles, Daughters of the local American Revolution Palisade Chapter regent, left, and chapter historian Nita Talbot, was recently awarded the chapter’s Women in American History award for her community support.

Photo courtesy Friends of the Inyo An aerial view of Conglomerate Mesa, a roadless area on the edge of Death Valley National Park where Mojave Previous Metals is conducting exploratory drilling in search of gold.