Dr. Gregory Prouty

November 13, 1951 - April 18, 2014Dr. Gregory Kent Prouty of Fort Walton Beach, Florida passed away suddenly from natural causes on April 18, 2014 and will be forever missed by his family and friends. Gregory was born in Port Arthur, Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada to James and Kaye Prouty. As a young boy he attended Shuniah Public School where his abilities were recognized early on and he was selected to skip a grade and advance into the enrichment classes at Hammarskjold High School. Greg's dedication to learning continued at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay graduating in 1972. His studious nature enabled him to further his education with scholarships and bursaries at the University of Toronto Medical School, graduating in 1977. Greg graduated with honours on every level of education and his work ethic remained strong his entire life. He interned at the Bowmanville Hospital, Bowmanville, Ontario for 2 years while he searched for his nirvana and found it in the panhandle of Florida, surrounded by the white sand dunes of the Gulf Coast, beside the Eglin Air Force Base and down the road from Pensacola. He moved to Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, Florida in 1979 and first practiced General Medicine, then found his calling in 1981 in the Emergency Department of Crestview Hospital and began a career path that continued for the rest of his life and fed his soul. He continued his studies and transformed himself from an ER doctor as a young man to a Certified Emergency Medicine Physician and retired from Crestview Hospital as Director of Emergency Medicine. He was also instrumental for bringing Advanced Life Support (paramedics) to the citizens of Okaloosa County. He continued to contribute to the medical community at the North Okaloosa Medical Centre (NOMC) and the Fort WaltonBeach Medical Centre until his retirement as a Certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Not bad for a scrawny kid from frugal beginnings. Despite his many accomplishments Greg was never one to 'toot his own horn' and remained humble his entire life, without ever realizing how special he truly was. He never forgot where he came from and continued to honour the lifelong relationships with his friends from childhood, university, and medical school spanning 50 plus years, making rendezvous trips meeting in exotic vacation spots and also coming back to Thunder Bay to camp and fish. Greg loved the life he had chosen, loved his Florida home, loved his family and friends, and loved fishing. His quiet, kind demeanor and his great witty sense of humour will be forever missed. He always had a smile on his face. He is survived by his wife Cathy & stepson Ethan in Fort Walton Beach, mother Kaye, brother Bill and sister Kathryn (Dennis Widdifield) all in Thunder Bay, brother Gary (Patricia) in Costa Rica, nieces Elizabeth & Anne Widdifield, Sarah and Tessa Prouty and nephew Matthew Prouty all in Thunder Bay, and niece Caitlin Prouty in Prince Albert, Sask. He was pre-deceased by his father James in January 1970. If friends desire, Greg's only wish was donations be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. There is a perpetual online Guest Book at www.legacy.com/guestbooks/nwf dailynews/gregory-prouty/condolencesThere is also an online tribute wall atwww.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Gregory-Prouty"