H Gay Curtis
On January 6, 2003, H. Gay Curtis,78, died at his home from a long illness. Gay was born in Solomonsville, Arizona. His family later moved to Thatcher, Arizona, where his mother, Catherine Blazzard Curtis, taught school, and his father, Ezra Curtis, worked as a farmer. Gay enjoyed learning to harness teams of horses and mules, to plow and plant, harvest, irrigate, raise gardens, cattle, hogs, and milk cows with the guidance of his father, who also shared with Gay his joy of learning Spanish, a hard-work ethic, a cheerful disposition, and playing the harmonica. At Thatcher High School, Gay played football, basketball, and baseball, graduated with honors in 1942, and continued farming with his dad, walking several miles to his uncle's farm to work. Gay was sworn into the United States Navy in 1944. He and fellow crewmen were eventually assigned to a PB4Y-2 Privateer, a land-based Navy patrol bomber. His position was that of a port waist gunner, a radar operator and radioman for Patrol Bombing Squadron 116, operating from Iwo Jima against Japanese installations. After hundreds of flight hours in heavy combat, and going on weather missions, the bomber was grounded due to heavy tail and fuselage damage. He received an air medal and was honorably discharged in 1946. Gay felt fortunate to have made it home, and he never wanted to see the ocean again. Gay returned home, graduated from Gila College, then attended Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, where he met his best friend and wife of 52 years, Patricia R. Smith. They continued their education at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, where he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Education, and she with a degree in Elementary Education. Pat and Gay were married June 10, 1950, and moved to Phoenix, AZ, where Gay rented three farms, growing cotton, milo maze, corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, and wheat on about 300 acres west of Phoenix. Without the luxury of today's air-conditioned tractor cabs, an overhead tractor umbrella was the only protection from the scorching 100-degree heat, dust, bugs, and humidity. Year-round farming left little time, but his children knew they were loved and cherished the family camping trips, Dutch-oven cooking, and fishing in the White Mountains of AZ, where Gay became an expert camp builder. Gay was a member of Phoenix's Brook's United Methodist Church, was a Boy Scout leader, was a member of the Arizona Cotton Grower's Association, and Farm Bureau. After 20 years farming, in 1970, Gay and his family moved to Twin Falls where many valley youths enjoyed his sincerity, infectious grin, and sense of humor when he was a substitute teacher in many area school districts. He eventually received a full-time position at Robert Stuart Jr. High teaching Spanish, and at Vera C. O'Leary teaching English-as-a-Second Language ESL. Throughout his teaching career, he enjoyed teaching his students and enjoyed faculty friendships. Gay was a member of The United Methodist Church and served on the Methodist Men's committee, on donation drives, and sang in the church choir. Gay had a love of history and loved our country, grew huge vegetable gardens, cared for his fruit trees, spoke fluent Spanish, studied in Mexico, and transformed the family backyard into a forested park-like paradise. His talents were boundless and endless; we never knew what he'd say to make us laugh. Throughout his recent illness, he treated his family and nurses with grace, kindness, and respect. Gay is survived by his loving wife, Pat, to whom he was married 52 years, his sister, Kathleen Curtis Nicolls Paso Robles, CA his son, Mike Twin Falls, ID; two daughters, Molly Curtis Nampa, ID, Kerry Curtis Peterson and son-in-law, Scott Peterson Twin Falls, and one grandson, Joseph Mann, Moscow, ID. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2003, at White Mortuary Chapel, with Rev. Daniel Rieke, officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Charitable donations are suggested to the Twin Falls United Methodist Church, or the Idaho Youth Ranch. Gay's family wishes to thank Dr. John Pilch, Dr. Lisa Burgett, as well as the staff and caregivers from Idaho Home Health and Hospice for their concerns and help. Leave a light on for us, Gay; we'll see you soon.
Times-News, The (Twin Falls, ID) - Thursday, January 9, 2003
On January 6, 2003, H. Gay Curtis,78, died at his home from a long illness. Gay was born in Solomonsville, Arizona. His family later moved to Thatcher, Arizona, where his mother, Catherine Blazzard Curtis, taught school, and his father, Ezra Curtis, worked as a farmer. Gay enjoyed learning to harness teams of horses and mules, to plow and plant, harvest, irrigate, raise gardens, cattle, hogs, and milk cows with the guidance of his father, who also shared with Gay his joy of learning Spanish, a hard-work ethic, a cheerful disposition, and playing the harmonica. At Thatcher High School, Gay played football, basketball, and baseball, graduated with honors in 1942, and continued farming with his dad, walking several miles to his uncle's farm to work. Gay was sworn into the United States Navy in 1944. He and fellow crewmen were eventually assigned to a PB4Y-2 Privateer, a land-based Navy patrol bomber. His position was that of a port waist gunner, a radar operator and radioman for Patrol Bombing Squadron 116, operating from Iwo Jima against Japanese installations. After hundreds of flight hours in heavy combat, and going on weather missions, the bomber was grounded due to heavy tail and fuselage damage. He received an air medal and was honorably discharged in 1946. Gay felt fortunate to have made it home, and he never wanted to see the ocean again. Gay returned home, graduated from Gila College, then attended Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, where he met his best friend and wife of 52 years, Patricia R. Smith. They continued their education at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, where he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Education, and she with a degree in Elementary Education. Pat and Gay were married June 10, 1950, and moved to Phoenix, AZ, where Gay rented three farms, growing cotton, milo maze, corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, and wheat on about 300 acres west of Phoenix. Without the luxury of today's air-conditioned tractor cabs, an overhead tractor umbrella was the only protection from the scorching 100-degree heat, dust, bugs, and humidity. Year-round farming left little time, but his children knew they were loved and cherished the family camping trips, Dutch-oven cooking, and fishing in the White Mountains of AZ, where Gay became an expert camp builder. Gay was a member of Phoenix's Brook's United Methodist Church, was a Boy Scout leader, was a member of the Arizona Cotton Grower's Association, and Farm Bureau. After 20 years farming, in 1970, Gay and his family moved to Twin Falls where many valley youths enjoyed his sincerity, infectious grin, and sense of humor when he was a substitute teacher in many area school districts. He eventually received a full-time position at Robert Stuart Jr. High teaching Spanish, and at Vera C. O'Leary teaching English-as-a-Second Language ESL. Throughout his teaching career, he enjoyed teaching his students and enjoyed faculty friendships. Gay was a member of The United Methodist Church and served on the Methodist Men's committee, on donation drives, and sang in the church choir. Gay had a love of history and loved our country, grew huge vegetable gardens, cared for his fruit trees, spoke fluent Spanish, studied in Mexico, and transformed the family backyard into a forested park-like paradise. His talents were boundless and endless; we never knew what he'd say to make us laugh. Throughout his recent illness, he treated his family and nurses with grace, kindness, and respect. Gay is survived by his loving wife, Pat, to whom he was married 52 years, his sister, Kathleen Curtis Nicolls Paso Robles, CA his son, Mike Twin Falls, ID; two daughters, Molly Curtis Nampa, ID, Kerry Curtis Peterson and son-in-law, Scott Peterson Twin Falls, and one grandson, Joseph Mann, Moscow, ID. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2003, at White Mortuary Chapel, with Rev. Daniel Rieke, officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Charitable donations are suggested to the Twin Falls United Methodist Church, or the Idaho Youth Ranch. Gay's family wishes to thank Dr. John Pilch, Dr. Lisa Burgett, as well as the staff and caregivers from Idaho Home Health and Hospice for their concerns and help. Leave a light on for us, Gay; we'll see you soon.
Times-News, The (Twin Falls, ID) - Thursday, January 9, 2003
H Gay Curtis
On January 6, 2003, H. Gay Curtis,78, died at his home from a long illness. Gay was born in Solomonsville, Arizona. His family later moved to Thatcher, Arizona, where his mother, Catherine Blazzard Curtis, taught school, and his father, Ezra Curtis, worked as a farmer. Gay enjoyed learning to harness teams of horses and mules, to plow and plant, harvest, irrigate, raise gardens, cattle, hogs, and milk cows with the guidance of his father, who also shared with Gay his joy of learning Spanish, a hard-work ethic, a cheerful disposition, and playing the harmonica. At Thatcher High School, Gay played football, basketball, and baseball, graduated with honors in 1942, and continued farming with his dad, walking several miles to his uncle's farm to work. Gay was sworn into the United States Navy in 1944. He and fellow crewmen were eventually assigned to a PB4Y-2 Privateer, a land-based Navy patrol bomber. His position was that of a port waist gunner, a radar operator and radioman for Patrol Bombing Squadron 116, operating from Iwo Jima against Japanese installations. After hundreds of flight hours in heavy combat, and going on weather missions, the bomber was grounded due to heavy tail and fuselage damage. He received an air medal and was honorably discharged in 1946. Gay felt fortunate to have made it home, and he never wanted to see the ocean again. Gay returned home, graduated from Gila College, then attended Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, where he met his best friend and wife of 52 years, Patricia R. Smith. They continued their education at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, where he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Education, and she with a degree in Elementary Education. Pat and Gay were married June 10, 1950, and moved to Phoenix, AZ, where Gay rented three farms, growing cotton, milo maze, corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, and wheat on about 300 acres west of Phoenix. Without the luxury of today's air-conditioned tractor cabs, an overhead tractor umbrella was the only protection from the scorching 100-degree heat, dust, bugs, and humidity. Year-round farming left little time, but his children knew they were loved and cherished the family camping trips, Dutch-oven cooking, and fishing in the White Mountains of AZ, where Gay became an expert camp builder. Gay was a member of Phoenix's Brook's United Methodist Church, was a Boy Scout leader, was a member of the Arizona Cotton Grower's Association, and Farm Bureau. After 20 years farming, in 1970, Gay and his family moved to Twin Falls where many valley youths enjoyed his sincerity, infectious grin, and sense of humor when he was a substitute teacher in many area school districts. He eventually received a full-time position at Robert Stuart Jr. High teaching Spanish, and at Vera C. O'Leary teaching English-as-a-Second Language ESL. Throughout his teaching career, he enjoyed teaching his students and enjoyed faculty friendships. Gay was a member of The United Methodist Church and served on the Methodist Men's committee, on donation drives, and sang in the church choir. Gay had a love of history and loved our country, grew huge vegetable gardens, cared for his fruit trees, spoke fluent Spanish, studied in Mexico, and transformed the family backyard into a forested park-like paradise. His talents were boundless and endless; we never knew what he'd say to make us laugh. Throughout his recent illness, he treated his family and nurses with grace, kindness, and respect. Gay is survived by his loving wife, Pat, to whom he was married 52 years, his sister, Kathleen Curtis Nicolls Paso Robles, CA his son, Mike Twin Falls, ID; two daughters, Molly Curtis Nampa, ID, Kerry Curtis Peterson and son-in-law, Scott Peterson Twin Falls, and one grandson, Joseph Mann, Moscow, ID. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2003, at White Mortuary Chapel, with Rev. Daniel Rieke, officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Charitable donations are suggested to the Twin Falls United Methodist Church, or the Idaho Youth Ranch. Gay's family wishes to thank Dr. John Pilch, Dr. Lisa Burgett, as well as the staff and caregivers from Idaho Home Health and Hospice for their concerns and help. Leave a light on for us, Gay; we'll see you soon.
Times-News, The (Twin Falls, ID) - Thursday, January 9, 2003
On January 6, 2003, H. Gay Curtis,78, died at his home from a long illness. Gay was born in Solomonsville, Arizona. His family later moved to Thatcher, Arizona, where his mother, Catherine Blazzard Curtis, taught school, and his father, Ezra Curtis, worked as a farmer. Gay enjoyed learning to harness teams of horses and mules, to plow and plant, harvest, irrigate, raise gardens, cattle, hogs, and milk cows with the guidance of his father, who also shared with Gay his joy of learning Spanish, a hard-work ethic, a cheerful disposition, and playing the harmonica. At Thatcher High School, Gay played football, basketball, and baseball, graduated with honors in 1942, and continued farming with his dad, walking several miles to his uncle's farm to work. Gay was sworn into the United States Navy in 1944. He and fellow crewmen were eventually assigned to a PB4Y-2 Privateer, a land-based Navy patrol bomber. His position was that of a port waist gunner, a radar operator and radioman for Patrol Bombing Squadron 116, operating from Iwo Jima against Japanese installations. After hundreds of flight hours in heavy combat, and going on weather missions, the bomber was grounded due to heavy tail and fuselage damage. He received an air medal and was honorably discharged in 1946. Gay felt fortunate to have made it home, and he never wanted to see the ocean again. Gay returned home, graduated from Gila College, then attended Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, where he met his best friend and wife of 52 years, Patricia R. Smith. They continued their education at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, where he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Education, and she with a degree in Elementary Education. Pat and Gay were married June 10, 1950, and moved to Phoenix, AZ, where Gay rented three farms, growing cotton, milo maze, corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, and wheat on about 300 acres west of Phoenix. Without the luxury of today's air-conditioned tractor cabs, an overhead tractor umbrella was the only protection from the scorching 100-degree heat, dust, bugs, and humidity. Year-round farming left little time, but his children knew they were loved and cherished the family camping trips, Dutch-oven cooking, and fishing in the White Mountains of AZ, where Gay became an expert camp builder. Gay was a member of Phoenix's Brook's United Methodist Church, was a Boy Scout leader, was a member of the Arizona Cotton Grower's Association, and Farm Bureau. After 20 years farming, in 1970, Gay and his family moved to Twin Falls where many valley youths enjoyed his sincerity, infectious grin, and sense of humor when he was a substitute teacher in many area school districts. He eventually received a full-time position at Robert Stuart Jr. High teaching Spanish, and at Vera C. O'Leary teaching English-as-a-Second Language ESL. Throughout his teaching career, he enjoyed teaching his students and enjoyed faculty friendships. Gay was a member of The United Methodist Church and served on the Methodist Men's committee, on donation drives, and sang in the church choir. Gay had a love of history and loved our country, grew huge vegetable gardens, cared for his fruit trees, spoke fluent Spanish, studied in Mexico, and transformed the family backyard into a forested park-like paradise. His talents were boundless and endless; we never knew what he'd say to make us laugh. Throughout his recent illness, he treated his family and nurses with grace, kindness, and respect. Gay is survived by his loving wife, Pat, to whom he was married 52 years, his sister, Kathleen Curtis Nicolls Paso Robles, CA his son, Mike Twin Falls, ID; two daughters, Molly Curtis Nampa, ID, Kerry Curtis Peterson and son-in-law, Scott Peterson Twin Falls, and one grandson, Joseph Mann, Moscow, ID. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2003, at White Mortuary Chapel, with Rev. Daniel Rieke, officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Charitable donations are suggested to the Twin Falls United Methodist Church, or the Idaho Youth Ranch. Gay's family wishes to thank Dr. John Pilch, Dr. Lisa Burgett, as well as the staff and caregivers from Idaho Home Health and Hospice for their concerns and help. Leave a light on for us, Gay; we'll see you soon.
Times-News, The (Twin Falls, ID) - Thursday, January 9, 2003
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