Albert Curtis Hutchins Jr.

Albert Curtis Hutchins Jr., 70, died in his home in Huntsville, Ark., on Oct. 12, 2014. Curtis Hutchins was born Oct. 27, 1943, in Shreveport, La., to Albert Curtis Hutchins Sr. and Gwendolyn Lafitte Hutchins. A graduate of Jesuit High School in Shreveport, La., Curtis received his bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Arkansas, Monticello. He was also a graduate of the Federal Reserve School for Examiners, Washington, D.C.; the FDIC School for Examiners, Arlington, Va.; and the School of Banking of the South, Louisiana State University. A natural leader, Curtis was appointed to the Arkansas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board and the Board of Trustees of Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, Ark. He served as president of the Fordyce Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Dallas County Arkansas Industrial Development Corporation, the treasurer and parish council member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, and member of Rotary International and Kiwanis Club. In 1995 and 1996, he served as president of the Arkansas Bankers Association. Curtis' career in banking spanned over 40 years. He began as a bank examiner for the FDIC, then became vice president of lending, Bank of Malvern. For many years, he served simultaneously as chairman, president and CEO of Fordyce Bank and Trust Company, and president and CEO of the E.C. Benton Insurance Agency. He also worked as senior vice president lending, First National Bank of Phillips County; senior vice president and trust officer, Arkansas State Bank, Siloam Springs, Ark.; and president and CEO of First State Bank of Northwest Arkansas, Huntsville. At the time of his passing, he was director of Today's Bank (formerly First State Bank of Northwest Arkansas), a licensed insurance agent for Hutchins Insurance Agency and president and CEO of Lafitte Inc., a real estate investment firm. Curtis is survived by his loving wife, Tamey Vanderpool Hutchins; sons, Mark, Michael, Scott, Joseph and Billy Joe Yates; daughters-in-law, Dia and Shikha; grandchildren, Jan Kathryn, Claudia, Hannah, Isabella, Chapel, Pierce, Madison and Justice; brother, John; sister, Gwen; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; son, Clay Steven; wife, Jan Hutchins; and wife, Sandy Hutchins. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the chapel of Brashears Funeral Home, with Father John Antony officiating. Interment will be in the Sparks Cemetery at Huntsville, under the direction of Brashears Funeral Home, www.brashearsfuneralhome.net, at Huntsville. Pallbearers will be Sam Mathias, Jay Williams, Lew Thompson, Dave Seal, Bob Matthews and Jay Moffett. Visitation was held 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home, with the family present. And you, most kind and gentle death, Waiting to hush our final breath, You lead to Heaven the Child of God, Where Christ our Lord the way has trod. By St. Francis of Assisi