Tommi Jean Bare Curtis, 75, passed away peacefully Monday, October 30, 2017 at Life Care Center of Blount County following a lengthy illness. Tommi resided in Holston Hills for many years with her family and was born in New Bern, NC. in November of 1941. She was the daughter of Rudd and Louise Bare of Newland, NC. Tommi attended Newland School in Avery County, NC., and later attended East Tennessee State University where she studied nursing.
Tommi was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wilbur F. Curtis of Knoxville; aunt Vicki Swan McCulloch and uncle Chuck Swan, former Tennessee Commissioner of Conservation, both of Knoxville; cousins, Alan Duncan of Phoenix, AZ and Jon Williams of North Augusta, SC. and best friend, Martha Melson of Knoxville, TN. Tommi is survived by her beloved sister, Lois Bare Johnson (Glenn); her children, Victoria Frazier and her husband, Dr. Claude Frazier and grandson Ayden of Knoxville; Wilbur E. Curtis and his wife Tabatha and daughter Lexus of Paint Rock, TN. and first born granddaughter Madison Kendig of Carmel, IN.; Malinda Fortner and husband Mark and grandchildren Matthew and Morgan Claiborne of Knoxville; special cousin Sara Ilardi and husband Fred of North Augusta, SC. and her children Sarah Ann Pawlowski of North Augusta, S.C. and Sammy Twiggs of Midlotthian, VA.; Sister-in-law Jean Curtis of Smithville, TN and her children, nephews Fred and Eddie Brannon of Knoxville and nieces Sharon Curtis-Flair of Smithville and Charlotte Curtis Hathaway of Crab Orchard, TN. and her aunt Helen Valois of Augusta, GA.
Tommi grew up in the North Carolina mountains where she worked from her early years until college in her family's diner, the Tweetsie Diner (housed in one of the original Tweetsie Railroad cars) in Newland, NC. It was there she developed her love of cooking and gardening.
She took an early interest in politics from her grandfather and continued participating in numerous political campaigns and events beginning as the sole female member of the Young Republican Club of East Tennessee State University, where she majored in nursing. A beautiful, outgoing young woman, she was always surrounded by people because of her loving and generous spirit. She enjoyed sports, was a cheerleader, and won numerous beauty pagents in her younger years.
Upon moving to Knoxville where she married her husband of 50 years, she stayed active in politics. later becoming a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Atlanta in 1988 and Tommi remained active with the Democratic Party at the local and state level for many years.
She owned a flower shop on Cumberland Avenue in Knoxville, worked in the fashion industry and owned a Christmas tree business with trees brought from her home state of North Carolina. Although she had many hobbies and enjoyed traveling, design and fashion, her true passion was her family and friends. Tommi had a special place in her heart for helping others whether it was cooking for the bereaved or offering someone a place to stay in her home. She loved giving to the community, working in many charitable organizations and helping strangers and friends alike. Tommi’s family wishes to thank all those who cared for her in her final years; especially Laura Cano and Bryant Ailor. Tommi’s Christian faith was always very important to her; she was a longtime member of Macedonia United Methodist Church in Knoxville.
Family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Friday, November 10, 2017 at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. A celebration of Tommi’s life will be held immediately afterwards followed by her burial at Macedonia United Methodist Church, Rev. Mark Lampley officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please remember Tommi with memorials to The Pat Summitt Foundation, 520 W. Summitt Hill Dr, Suite 1101, Knoxville, TN 37902.
Tommi was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wilbur F. Curtis of Knoxville; aunt Vicki Swan McCulloch and uncle Chuck Swan, former Tennessee Commissioner of Conservation, both of Knoxville; cousins, Alan Duncan of Phoenix, AZ and Jon Williams of North Augusta, SC. and best friend, Martha Melson of Knoxville, TN. Tommi is survived by her beloved sister, Lois Bare Johnson (Glenn); her children, Victoria Frazier and her husband, Dr. Claude Frazier and grandson Ayden of Knoxville; Wilbur E. Curtis and his wife Tabatha and daughter Lexus of Paint Rock, TN. and first born granddaughter Madison Kendig of Carmel, IN.; Malinda Fortner and husband Mark and grandchildren Matthew and Morgan Claiborne of Knoxville; special cousin Sara Ilardi and husband Fred of North Augusta, SC. and her children Sarah Ann Pawlowski of North Augusta, S.C. and Sammy Twiggs of Midlotthian, VA.; Sister-in-law Jean Curtis of Smithville, TN and her children, nephews Fred and Eddie Brannon of Knoxville and nieces Sharon Curtis-Flair of Smithville and Charlotte Curtis Hathaway of Crab Orchard, TN. and her aunt Helen Valois of Augusta, GA.
Tommi grew up in the North Carolina mountains where she worked from her early years until college in her family's diner, the Tweetsie Diner (housed in one of the original Tweetsie Railroad cars) in Newland, NC. It was there she developed her love of cooking and gardening.
She took an early interest in politics from her grandfather and continued participating in numerous political campaigns and events beginning as the sole female member of the Young Republican Club of East Tennessee State University, where she majored in nursing. A beautiful, outgoing young woman, she was always surrounded by people because of her loving and generous spirit. She enjoyed sports, was a cheerleader, and won numerous beauty pagents in her younger years.
Upon moving to Knoxville where she married her husband of 50 years, she stayed active in politics. later becoming a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Atlanta in 1988 and Tommi remained active with the Democratic Party at the local and state level for many years.
She owned a flower shop on Cumberland Avenue in Knoxville, worked in the fashion industry and owned a Christmas tree business with trees brought from her home state of North Carolina. Although she had many hobbies and enjoyed traveling, design and fashion, her true passion was her family and friends. Tommi had a special place in her heart for helping others whether it was cooking for the bereaved or offering someone a place to stay in her home. She loved giving to the community, working in many charitable organizations and helping strangers and friends alike. Tommi’s family wishes to thank all those who cared for her in her final years; especially Laura Cano and Bryant Ailor. Tommi’s Christian faith was always very important to her; she was a longtime member of Macedonia United Methodist Church in Knoxville.
Family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Friday, November 10, 2017 at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. A celebration of Tommi’s life will be held immediately afterwards followed by her burial at Macedonia United Methodist Church, Rev. Mark Lampley officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please remember Tommi with memorials to The Pat Summitt Foundation, 520 W. Summitt Hill Dr, Suite 1101, Knoxville, TN 37902.
Tommi Jean Bare Curtis, 75, passed away peacefully Monday, October 30, 2017 at Life Care Center of Blount County following a lengthy illness. Tommi resided in Holston Hills for many years with her family and was born in New Bern, NC. in November of 1941. She was the daughter of Rudd and Louise Bare of Newland, NC. Tommi attended Newland School in Avery County, NC., and later attended East Tennessee State University where she studied nursing.
Tommi was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wilbur F. Curtis of Knoxville; aunt Vicki Swan McCulloch and uncle Chuck Swan, former Tennessee Commissioner of Conservation, both of Knoxville; cousins, Alan Duncan of Phoenix, AZ and Jon Williams of North Augusta, SC. and best friend, Martha Melson of Knoxville, TN. Tommi is survived by her beloved sister, Lois Bare Johnson (Glenn); her children, Victoria Frazier and her husband, Dr. Claude Frazier and grandson Ayden of Knoxville; Wilbur E. Curtis and his wife Tabatha and daughter Lexus of Paint Rock, TN. and first born granddaughter Madison Kendig of Carmel, IN.; Malinda Fortner and husband Mark and grandchildren Matthew and Morgan Claiborne of Knoxville; special cousin Sara Ilardi and husband Fred of North Augusta, SC. and her children Sarah Ann Pawlowski of North Augusta, S.C. and Sammy Twiggs of Midlotthian, VA.; Sister-in-law Jean Curtis of Smithville, TN and her children, nephews Fred and Eddie Brannon of Knoxville and nieces Sharon Curtis-Flair of Smithville and Charlotte Curtis Hathaway of Crab Orchard, TN. and her aunt Helen Valois of Augusta, GA.
Tommi grew up in the North Carolina mountains where she worked from her early years until college in her family's diner, the Tweetsie Diner (housed in one of the original Tweetsie Railroad cars) in Newland, NC. It was there she developed her love of cooking and gardening.
She took an early interest in politics from her grandfather and continued participating in numerous political campaigns and events beginning as the sole female member of the Young Republican Club of East Tennessee State University, where she majored in nursing. A beautiful, outgoing young woman, she was always surrounded by people because of her loving and generous spirit. She enjoyed sports, was a cheerleader, and won numerous beauty pagents in her younger years.
Upon moving to Knoxville where she married her husband of 50 years, she stayed active in politics. later becoming a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Atlanta in 1988 and Tommi remained active with the Democratic Party at the local and state level for many years.
She owned a flower shop on Cumberland Avenue in Knoxville, worked in the fashion industry and owned a Christmas tree business with trees brought from her home state of North Carolina. Although she had many hobbies and enjoyed traveling, design and fashion, her true passion was her family and friends. Tommi had a special place in her heart for helping others whether it was cooking for the bereaved or offering someone a place to stay in her home. She loved giving to the community, working in many charitable organizations and helping strangers and friends alike. Tommi’s family wishes to thank all those who cared for her in her final years; especially Laura Cano and Bryant Ailor. Tommi’s Christian faith was always very important to her; she was a longtime member of Macedonia United Methodist Church in Knoxville.
Family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Friday, November 10, 2017 at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. A celebration of Tommi’s life will be held immediately afterwards followed by her burial at Macedonia United Methodist Church, Rev. Mark Lampley officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please remember Tommi with memorials to The Pat Summitt Foundation, 520 W. Summitt Hill Dr, Suite 1101, Knoxville, TN 37902.
Tommi was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wilbur F. Curtis of Knoxville; aunt Vicki Swan McCulloch and uncle Chuck Swan, former Tennessee Commissioner of Conservation, both of Knoxville; cousins, Alan Duncan of Phoenix, AZ and Jon Williams of North Augusta, SC. and best friend, Martha Melson of Knoxville, TN. Tommi is survived by her beloved sister, Lois Bare Johnson (Glenn); her children, Victoria Frazier and her husband, Dr. Claude Frazier and grandson Ayden of Knoxville; Wilbur E. Curtis and his wife Tabatha and daughter Lexus of Paint Rock, TN. and first born granddaughter Madison Kendig of Carmel, IN.; Malinda Fortner and husband Mark and grandchildren Matthew and Morgan Claiborne of Knoxville; special cousin Sara Ilardi and husband Fred of North Augusta, SC. and her children Sarah Ann Pawlowski of North Augusta, S.C. and Sammy Twiggs of Midlotthian, VA.; Sister-in-law Jean Curtis of Smithville, TN and her children, nephews Fred and Eddie Brannon of Knoxville and nieces Sharon Curtis-Flair of Smithville and Charlotte Curtis Hathaway of Crab Orchard, TN. and her aunt Helen Valois of Augusta, GA.
Tommi grew up in the North Carolina mountains where she worked from her early years until college in her family's diner, the Tweetsie Diner (housed in one of the original Tweetsie Railroad cars) in Newland, NC. It was there she developed her love of cooking and gardening.
She took an early interest in politics from her grandfather and continued participating in numerous political campaigns and events beginning as the sole female member of the Young Republican Club of East Tennessee State University, where she majored in nursing. A beautiful, outgoing young woman, she was always surrounded by people because of her loving and generous spirit. She enjoyed sports, was a cheerleader, and won numerous beauty pagents in her younger years.
Upon moving to Knoxville where she married her husband of 50 years, she stayed active in politics. later becoming a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Atlanta in 1988 and Tommi remained active with the Democratic Party at the local and state level for many years.
She owned a flower shop on Cumberland Avenue in Knoxville, worked in the fashion industry and owned a Christmas tree business with trees brought from her home state of North Carolina. Although she had many hobbies and enjoyed traveling, design and fashion, her true passion was her family and friends. Tommi had a special place in her heart for helping others whether it was cooking for the bereaved or offering someone a place to stay in her home. She loved giving to the community, working in many charitable organizations and helping strangers and friends alike. Tommi’s family wishes to thank all those who cared for her in her final years; especially Laura Cano and Bryant Ailor. Tommi’s Christian faith was always very important to her; she was a longtime member of Macedonia United Methodist Church in Knoxville.
Family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Friday, November 10, 2017 at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. A celebration of Tommi’s life will be held immediately afterwards followed by her burial at Macedonia United Methodist Church, Rev. Mark Lampley officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please remember Tommi with memorials to The Pat Summitt Foundation, 520 W. Summitt Hill Dr, Suite 1101, Knoxville, TN 37902.
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