Dr. Seale T. Cutbirth
(1929-2017)
Seale Tippen Cutbirth, MD passed away peacefully Friday morning, October 13, 2017. Dr. and Mrs. Cutbirth have resided at The Chatfield assisted living facility in Brownwood, Texas the past three years.
Dr. Cutbirth was born in Brownwood, Texas, at the Medical Arts Hospital October 26, 1929 to Sam and Ollie Cutbirth. Dr. Cutbirth grew up in Houston and moved to Wharton, Texas his junior year in high school while his father was general manager of the Pierce Estate in Pierce, Texas, just outside Wharton, Texas. He began his lifetime love of the outdoors hunting and fishing on the Pierce Estate.
Graduating from Baylor University in 1952, Baylor Medical School in 1956 and completing an internship and residency in general practice at John Peter Smith Hospital in Ft. Worth, Dr. Cutbirth practiced in Wharton for two years before moving his family to Brownwood in 1958 and practicing general practice and surgery for 35 years until his retirement in 1992. Dr. Rogers Coleman was his medical partner and close friend for most of those years.
Seale married Betty Sue Carnett June 13, 1952. They met at Baylor University and were happily married for 66 years and had four children, Steve, Brian, Kitty and Sam. Dr. and Mrs. Cutbirth loved following their children’s activities, including Brownwood football, golf and other sports. Dr. Cutbirth was one of the team doctors for the Brownwood Lions for many years. Both parents said many times the best time of their lives was while their children were growing up in Brownwood.
The Cutbirths love their friends and have many. Seale traveled to Wyoming and spent the month of October for 30 years hunting, fishing and camping with his lifelong friend, Alex Weber. Seale’s day off was always Thursday and he spent them either water skiing with family and friends at Lake Brownwood in the summers or fishing with Alex the rest of the year.
Dr. Cutbirth served on the Brownwood Hospital Board that built the Brownwood Regional Hospital in 1969. He served a term as chief of staff at the hospital. Back then, there were few medical specialists in Brownwood, so Dr. Cutbirth began most days performing surgery at the hospital before seeing patients in his office on Coggin Avenue. A typical day for Seale began with surgery at 7am, seeing patients in his office until 6pm, followed by “rounds” in the hospital checking on his hospital patients and ending with “house calls” until 8 or 9 pm. Patients routinely phoned Dr. Cutbirth and the other doctors of the day at home for advice or direction. “House calls” were $1-5 or a chicken or some vegetables or fruit, if the patient could afford anything. Dr. Cutbirth’s children would sometimes accompany him on a house call. Steve remembers one man giving his Dad a pheasant for the house call. When serious car wrecks or other accidents occurred, Dr. Cutbirth and the other general practice doctors were all there was. The family remembers Dr. Cutbirth performing complex neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery or other surgeries on patients in emergency situations, often while talking on the phone in the operating room to a medical specialist in a city receiving directives. Dr. Cutbirth’s medical practice was his outreach and his avocation.
Dr. Cutbirth was a 50 year member and deacon of First Baptist Church, Brownwood.
He served on the board of directors of Republic National Bank, Brownwood for many years.
Dr. Cutbirth is survived by his wonderful wife, Betty Sue, son, Steve and wife, Sharron of Waco, daughter, Kitty and husband, Russell of Brownwood and son, Sam and wife, Geanna of Abilene. Son, Brian of Abilene preceded his father in death in 1992. The Cutbirths have 9 granddaughters and 10 great grandchildren. He is also is survived by his brother Treldon Cutbirth and wife Minnie of Brownwood.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Dr. Cutbirth on Friday, October 20, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Brownwood. The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at Davis-Morris Funeral Home.
The family requests any memorials be made to the Butler Sunday School Class at the First Baptist Church, Brownwood. They would also like to thank the Staff at the Chatfield for the exceptional care they have given Dr. and Mrs. Cutbirth since moving there.
There will be a meal provided for out-of-town visitors at 11:00 am on Friday at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.
Online memorials can be left at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com.
