Carl E. Shrontz, M.D., 56, of Beaumont, died January 23, 2010, in Beaumont.
He was born in Houston, Texas to Mildred Ellen Butler and Robert James Shrontz. He attended school in Perrysburg, Ohio and moved to Columbia, South Carolina his senior year of high school and graduated from Irmo High School in 1972. He then attended the University of South Carolina and graduated with a degree in Mathematics. Dr. Shrontz attended Medical University of South Carolina and graduated in 1978. He began his residency in Internal Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. After two years, a good friend, Dr. Al Delos Reyes, talked him into changing to Neuro Surgery. He completed his Neurosurgical Residency in 1985 and joined Neurosurgical Practice of Refes, Star, Faulk and Kubala in Beaumont, Texas.
While in Detroit, he met his wife, Laurel Barron at Henry Ford Hospital. They were married in 1983. They have two daughters, Rachael Ellyn and Cara Therese. In addition to Neurosurgeon, Carl was a rancher and cowboy. He loved working cattle and riding with his cowboy friends. In 1996, he chose to buy a small filly that was passed over by other trainers and owners. He believed in her and she won the 1997 NCHA cutting horse Futurity. Breeding and raising cutting horses has been the ranch priority since then.
Believing in potential was the hallmark in his life and a quality his patients seem to believe in. Carl was multitalented in addition to surgical and cowboy skills, he was a member of St. Marks’ choir and a skillful judge and photographer of his daughters dance, sport, and band competitions.
Survivors include his wife, Laurel; daughters, Rachael Shrontz and Cara Shrontz; mother, Mildred E. Shrontz; sister, Marion Hyslop and her husband Fred; brother, Darrin Shrontz and his wife Michelle; three nephews; and one niece.
Carl passed away exactly sixteen years to the day from his best friend and best man, Walter.
A memorial service will be 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 27, 2010, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder, Beaumont under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin. A visitation will be Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 5:00 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. at the funeral home.
The family wishes to thank all our friends and colleagues who cared so much for Carl over the course of his illness.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to St. Mark’s Episcopal Choir, 680 Calder, Beaumont, Texas 77701, Ubi Caritas, Family Medical Clinic, 4450 Highland Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77705, or Lamar University Music Department, P. O. Box 1007, Beaumont, Texas 77710.
