Everett M Curtis

Our loving husband, father, and grandfather, Everett Martin Curtis (nicknamed Curt), died of congestive heart failure at the age of 83 in North Las Vegas, NV on September 18, 2017.  Curt is survived by his wife of 57 years, Arva Lue Petersen Curtis; daughter, Sandra Kaye Wallace and her partner, Charles Gonzales of North Las Vegas, NV; daughter, Lisa Arlene Hughes and her husband, Terry Hughes of Las Vegas, NV; son, Richard Roy Curtis and his wife, Lisa McKenna; granddaughter, Siya Curtis and grandson, John Curtis of Marblehead, MA; as well as many Curtis nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother, Oma Mae Weaver Curtis; father, Everett Roy Curtis; brother, Clarence Curtis and sister, Geraldine Curtis.

Curt was born in a cabin in the woods near Vienna, Missouri that had no electricity or running water.  His mother died at his birth and he was cared for as a baby and toddler by his aunt Ruby Niewoehner followed by his aunt Jeanette Curtis.  At an older age he returned to the cabin on Bear Branch to live with his father, older brother and sister.  There he gained a deep abiding love of nature, hunting and fishing with his father and brother and learning to read with the help of his sister.  He graduated from the one room Snodgrass schoolhouse and then moved on to Vienna High School. 

Curt joined the United States Air Force at the age of 19 and traveled the world as a Crew Chief.  He was stationed at Lackland AFB then in the Azores before being transferred to Hill AFB, Clearfield where he met his wife and her large Latter Day Saint family.  He joined the 60th Military Airlift Wing and survived the 1968 Tet Offensive at Bien Hoa Air Base. Curt narrowly escaped when a bomb hit the bunker next to him.  He and his family exchanged reel-to-reel audiotapes to keep in touch in those days before cell phones and email.

Curt and Arva and their children moved often throughout his Air Force career and enjoyed their time in Arizona, Illinois, California and Turkey. Curt was also an Air Force recruiter during the last years of the Viet Nam War, one of the hardest assignments at that time. Curt rose to the rank of Master Sergeant and retired after 26 years of service.  Curt went to college on the GI bill and earned his Associates of Science degree in Computer Sciences at Solano Community College in Suisun City, CA.  He then worked with the U.S. Navy as a civilian employee creating databases at Concord Naval Weapons Station.

Curt took early retirement in 1992 after surviving a triple bypass.  He stopped smoking and bought an RV.  With their house sold and their furniture in storage, Curt and Arva traveled throughout America crossing the country twice to visit their son and his family in Boston.  They looked for their next home in the southwest and chose to settle in North Las Vegas in 1994.  They enjoyed their retirement and continued to travel and explore in their RV. 

Curt and Arva were active in their church, serving a two-year mission at the Las Vegas Family History Center and then teaching genealogy classes to church members and the public for many years.  Curt was a convert to the LDS Church and was a High Priest. Arva and Curt became sealed for time and all eternity in 1996.  Exploring his and Arva’s geneaology remained a favorite hobby that has been passed down to his children as well as his love of the outdoors.  Fishing remained a lifelong passion for Curt and he was an accomplished handyman, old car mechanic and carpenter. Curt was a superb story teller and collector of jokes and stories.  He never met a stranger and loved to learn about the lives of others. He remained vibrant and interested up until the last morning of his life and was loved deeply by family and friends.

Funeral services will be held Friday evening, September 22, 2017 at 7 pm at Aaron's Mortuary, 1050 S State Street, Clearfield, UT.  Friends may visit with family from 5:30 to 6:30 pm  prior to the service at the same location.  Graveside services with military honors will be held Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 10 am. at the Logan City Cemetery in Logan, UT near the river where he fell in love with his wife, the love of his life. 

Flowers may be sent or delivered to Aaron’s Mortuary and donations in his memory can be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America.

The family sends their gratitude to all of Curt’s caregivers including Marquis Plaza Regency skilled nursing facility, Comfort Keepers, Marvel Manor Assisted Living, and Chuck Gonzales.  We will never be able to thank you enough.