Kemal E. Kutait

Kemal E. Kutait, M.D., 80, of Fort Smith, Ark. passed away Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. He was born Sept. 5, 1930, in Eureka Springs, Ark. to Camil M. and Sophia Rahal Kutait. Following completion of his medical education at the University of Arkansas Medical Center, he served in the military as an Army Aviation medical examiner/flight surgeon in Germany from 1959 to 1963. He entered private practice in Fort Smith in 1963 and practiced family medicine until 1998. He was the senior partner in The Family Doctors group; served as Chief of Staff at St. Edwards Hospital (l970); was an associate professor at the University of Arkansas Medical School; served as president of the Arkansas chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians (1971-1972); president of the Arkansas Caduceus Club (1979-1980); president of the Arkansas Medical Society (1980-1981); Charter Fellow, American Academy of Family Practice; Board Certified in family medicine; Chairman, State Health Systems Agency; member of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He also served on the Board of Directors of American Physician's Insurance Exchange (1979-1998); was a board member of the United Fund; Girls Club; Chamber of Commerce; and State Board of Higher Education. He was active in the local chapter of AMVETS, his church and served on the Vestry, was a Lay-Reader, Senior Warden, Lay-Eucharistic Minister, and Trustee. He was co-founder of the Good Samaritan Clinic in Fort Smith. He is survived by his wife of 58 years Virginia; his son Kemal Kutait Jr.; his daughter Karin Kutait; sister Nita Kutait Fawcett; brother Jesse Kutait, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter Kay Kutait; brothers Ralph Kutait and Ed Lee Kutait. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church with interment at Woodlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be T. J. Fowler, Kevin Fowler, Brad Johnston, Page Kutait, Dr. Lance Bogoslavsky, and Robin Fawcett. Honorary Pallbearers will be B.G. Hendrix, Dr. Jim Post, Don Lewison, Joe Nolte, Dr. Joel Parker, and Gene Stiles. The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Monday evening from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be made to St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 2701 Old Greenwood Road Fort Smith, Ark. 72903 or to The Good Samaritan Clinic, 615 North B Street Fort Smith, Ark. 72901.