Individual Details

Edward A. Kutac Jr., 87, of Amarillo died Wednesday, June 3, 2009.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Mary's Catholic Church with Monsignor Harold Waldow as celebrant.
Ed was born April 17, 1922, in Yoakum, the son of Edward August Kutac and Albina Lanik Kutac. He served in the Navy, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, and then married Amy Smith.
A longtime resident of Austin, Ed was active in a wide array of civic, environmental and birding organizations. He was an Optimist and a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus while living there. An avid and active birder, Ed was president of both Travis Audubon Society and the Texas Ornithological Society, and served on the boards of both organizations for many years. Countless birders took his classes, participated in his bird trips, and learned the joys and delights of birding and the natural world from his endeavors. He authored two books on birding, "Birder's Guide to Texas" and "A Bird Finding and Naturalist's Guide for the Austin, Texas, Area" with Chris Caran. He was instrumental in negotiating the acquisition of the Travis Audubon Preserve, and as a member of the Nature Conservancy Board, helped shepherd the designation and acquisition of Big Thicket Preserve, precursor to Big Thicket National Park.
After moving to Amarillo 15 years ago, he joined the Panhandle Bird Club, which he enjoyed tremendously, until he could no longer go birding. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He gave a wonderful example of giving of himself to his family, his church and his community. He will be missed.
The family would like to express their deep appreciation to BSA Hospice for their love and support, and to the staff of the Texas State Veteran's Home.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Josephine Faubion.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Amy; three daughters, Mary Irish and husband Gary of Scottsdale, Ariz., Anne Jones and husband Darrell of Fredericksburg and Lucy Jalbert and husband Richard of Amarillo; three grandsons, Travis Jones of Grand Prairie, Luke Jalbert and wife Christy and their sons, Ryan and Steven of Amarillo, and Mark Jalbert of Austin; two sisters, Ethel Kutac and Evelyn Monnich, both of Austin; and 11 nephews and nieces and their children.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to Travis Audubon Society, 3710 Cedar St., Box 5, Austin, TX 78705; Panhandle Bird Club,www.wtamu.edu/~matlack/panhandlebirdclub/; or Building Fund, St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1200 S. Washington St., Amarillo, TX 79102.
Visitation will be at 7 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home Brentwood Chapel.

Birth	17 Apr 1922	DeWitt County, Texas
Marriage	Abt 1947	Texas - Winifred Amelia "Amy" Smith
Residence	1 Sep 1994	Amarillo, Randall County, Texas
Death	3 Jun 2009	Amarillo, Randall County, Texas
Burial		Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Randall County, Texas

Spouse	Winifred Amelia "Amy" Smith (1925 - 2014)
Child	Living
Child	Living
Child	Living

Notes