Dr. Simon Abraham

Born on February 29, 1932, Dr. Kurudamanil Simon "Abbie" Abraham passed away on Friday, October 12, 2018, at age 86. He is survived by his wife, Annie, four children, Simon, Prema, Matthew, and Jacob, and eight grandchildren, Jamuna, Mathew, Abe, Maya, Lily, Simon, Benjamin, and Anna.

Born in the state of Kerala in the south of India, Dr. Abraham grew up in the Nilgiris region of Chennai. He graduated from the Christian Medical College Vellore in 1958. He continued his general and cardiothoracic surgical residencies in Vellore, working as an Associate Professor of Surgery until 1966. He completed training in cardiothoracic surgery in Auckland, New Zealand, and earned the title of Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. He moved to Mountain Home in 1971.

The first foreign medical graduate to receive a medical license in the state, Dr. Abraham started his medical practice at the Saltzman-Gunthner Clinic. The Abraham Medical Center was built in 1975, operating until his retirement in August 2014. Dr. Abraham donated the building and property on which the Medical Center sat to the Mountain Home Educational Foundation to provide financial assistance to promising high school students. As a co-founder of the Arkansas chapter of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Abraham also led efforts to support development of the Paraumala Hospital in Kerala.

His life accomplishments for which he is beloved and most remembered: The Patriarch of our extended family worldwide; a loving and generous husband; a best friend to each of his four children; an adoring grandfather; a brilliant surgeon and physician' compassionate advocate for each and every patient; a generous benefactor to the advancement of medicine, education, and the arts around the world. He was adored by all who knew him.

We will remember your rare combination of charisma, courage, intellect, affection, irreverence and irascible sense of humor. You will be missed and always live in our hearts. Thank you for sharing your incredible light, love and life with each of us.

Visitation for Dr. Abraham will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16, 2018, at Kirby Family Funeral Home Chapel. Celebration of life service will begin at 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mountain Home Educational Foundation in Dr. Abraham’s name.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas.