DR. REBECCA OLIPHANT

Dr. Rebecca Palmer Oliphant, 45, of Canberra, Australia, died Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1996, at her home.

She was born Aug. 27, 1951, at Scott City, daughter of Alexander Blair and Ruth Craig Gibson. She first married Jim Palmer in Scott City. She and the Rev. David Oliphant were married Sept. 1, 1995, in Canberra.

Oliphant was a 1969 graduate of Scott City High School, attended Southeast Missouri State University, and received a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1975.

She had practices in Missouri, Colorado and Arizona before doing missionary work in Papua-New Guinea through the Lutheran church. She then moved to Canberra where she had a veterinary practice specializing in holistic medicine and acupuncture.

The Australian Veterinary Association is recognizing her work nationally with a Meritorious Service Award, which will be presented at this year's annual conference.

Oliphant served 12 years on the ACT regional committee, and three years on the AVA National Council. She was founding president of the Australian Veterinary Acupunture Association.

Survivors include her husband; three stepdaughters, Rachel, Ruth and Clemency of Australia; two sisters, Margaret Nicoll of Bellevue, Wash., and Jane David of Silverdale, Wash.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral service was held at St. Philip's Church in O'Connor, Australia, where her husband is rector.