A Legacy of Veterinary Care in the Ozarks since 1963
Serving the Kirbyville community since 1963, with a hometown tradition of veterinary care.
Every veterinary practice has a story, and ours began in 1963 in Taneyville, Missouri. What started as Taneyville Veterinary Clinic grew through the dedication of its veterinarians and team members, serving local cattle and horse farms and the people who depended on them. In 2007, the practice moved to Kirbyville, bringing its history into a new home. Today, that legacy continues as R Veterinary at Kirbyville, with longtime team members and a commitment to carrying the story forward.
Where the Story Began
In 1963, Dr. Gordon Heseman opened Taneyville Veterinary Clinic in Taneyville, Missouri, establishing a veterinary practice close to home. His home was attached to the clinic, making the practice a true part of everyday life. His wife, Carol, helped manage the business, supporting the work that kept the clinic running.
The practice began with strong ties to the surrounding agricultural community, caring for cattle and horses on local farms. Over time, the clinic grew, and new veterinarians and team members became part of its story.
Dr. Cone joined the practice as an associate veterinarian and eventually purchased the clinic in 1997. Team members Kristen Goodman, who joined in 2003, and Lacy Ward, who joined in 2005, have continued serving the clinic through the years.
Dr. Heseman retired in 2025 after more than six decades of veterinary service, but he still visits the clinic from time to time. His legacy remains part of the practice and the people who continue its work.
From Taneyville to Kirbyville
For more than four decades, the practice called Taneyville home. In 2007, it began a new chapter when the clinic relocated to Kirbyville. For a short time, both locations remained open while the transition took place.
The grooming and boarding building in Kirbyville originally served as the veterinary clinic while a larger veterinary hospital was being built. Later that year, the Taneyville location closed, and the practice continued in its new home.
The move marked a change in location, but it also carried forward the history and relationships built since 1963.
Rooted in the Community
The story of this practice began with the agricultural community around Taneyville, where caring for cattle and horses on local farms was an important part of its work. That connection to the area's animals and the people who care for them helped shape the clinic's early years.
Today, the practice carries that history forward in Kirbyville. Its story is also reflected in the team members who have dedicated years of their careers to the clinic, building continuity across generations of veterinary care.
A New Chapter, A Lasting Legacy
In February 2024, the clinic became part of R Veterinary, beginning a new chapter in a story that started more than 60 years earlier.
The practice's history was built by the people who cared for its patients, supported its clients, and helped it grow. Joining R Veterinary brought the clinic into a larger network while preserving its place in the community and the legacy that began in Taneyville.
Today, R Veterinary at Kirbyville continues that story, honoring the people and experiences that came before while looking ahead to the future of veterinary care.