John Curtis

Tuesday, January 29, 2019, John Michael Curtis, loving husband and father of two children and three stepchildren, passed away at the age of 71. Mike was born in Waldo, Arkansas to Jess Willard Curtis, Sr. and Ina Occo Cogburn. He was born on a very special day, Wednesday, November 12, 1947, the day of a solar eclipse –a rare occurrence for most of us, just as rare of a soul that Mike was to us. According to Elaine, his older sister who shares the same birthday, that rarity made him the smartest and most creative of all, which Mike surely expressed throughout both his personal life and business interactions. He overcame many challenges and persisted to always accomplish great things in his lifetime. As noted by his brother “he was successfully self-made and highly self-reliant.” He studied as a draftsman and worked his way up as a Materials Manager. Working at Trinity Industries in Dallas for many years provided Mike with a wealth of knowledge regarding railcars. Every train that passed, he would begin his dissertation regarding the different types, different loads, different specs and on and on. As a former co-worker wrote in a letter about his admiration and appreciation for both the friendship and knowledge that Mike demonstrated, “His proficiency not only allowed him to aid upper management but my department as well by performing manufacturing cost estimates in his spare time. Trinity and I missed his contribution when he moved on to greener pastures. He was an asset to Trinity.” I think it is safe to say that everyone here will miss his contributions as he moves on to his permanent greener pastures full of guns with endless ammo, craft beer, and wiener dogs. Mike enjoyed working, and with each challenging new project he adapted a new set of skills which allowed him to never lose sight of ambition. That same ambition and fulfillment gave him the motivation to work up until just days before his passing. He delighted in getting up in the wee hours of the morning to get to work before anyone else. He also prided himself in learning a multitude of other skills to better himself in life and helping others, one of which was sign language. Studying sign language as a young man allowed him the means to communicate when he awoke in ICU, having been intubated and unable to speak. Luckily, the nurse knew enough sign language to be able to communicate to give him a voice and comfort. And, as we all know, Mike certainly had a knack for telling it like it is, including letting it be known how crooked his TV was in his room in the hospital. Through the years his work has taken him to Tulsa, OK, Houston, TX, Odessa, TX, and Dallas, TX. He was working for Tucker Energy Solutions in Pasadena, Texas when he passed. Mike and Dana raised two children John Michael Curtis, Jr. and Kristen Ayn Curtis. Mike taught his kids to love all creatures –bugs, snakes, DOGS –and just nature in general. This may have had a lot to do with why Kristen likes her yard to be in its most natural state. They enjoyed playing catch or horsing around in the pool and always taking in the kid’s sporting events. Mike enjoyed having an annual crawfish boil and even as a little girl Kristen would pick them up and play with them. Mike spent many hours hunting and fishing as a young man. He has the photos, the skins, and the antlers to prove it. He enjoyed it so much that he even named some of his prizes -there is “Bob” the bobcat, “Buck” the deer, and “Tom” the turkey. Old British sport cars were a favorite of his and tinkering and fixing them in the garage gave him hours of pleasure. The family accompanied him to the car shows where he would participate in the Derby races. However, Kristen was the only one who would accompany her dad to the gun shows...where he would always buy her rattlesnake tails. Mike and Gail married December 2008, and enjoyed anything that got them out into nature -backpacking, kayaking, biking and car camping. Mike would tell anyone who would listen that he met his wife in the woods –he thought that was a funny story. As funny as it sounds, it’s pretty close to the truth and it was a time and place where they made lasting memories with dear friends. Their extra bedroom that has been dubbed the “adventure room” by his youngest grandson Greyson, only amplifies how much love of the outdoors was rooted deep in his soul and very much a part of what made Mike and Gail embodied as a couple. Mike enjoyed sharing how many miles he put on his bicycle odometer and was in a constant battle to better his record. Staying active was not just a nature quest, when he got his Silver Sneakers pass, he enjoyed his visits to the gym to lift weights and work on cardio, after all he had to stay buff for his lady. Attending Nascar events, football games, and baseball games was a favorite pastime. And one thing you could guarantee, if his teams were playing yours, you could expect a friendly jab when they took you down. He took Gail and his stepchildren to their first Nascar event. He didn’t just share with family, but many friends also went, including a few people he didn’t know. If he was walking into the event with an extra ticket, someone on the way in got a free ticket. The generosity he exuded was infectious. Mike enjoyed all types of music, you could look at him and see rock and roll but surprisingly he also enjoyed pipe organ music. Car rides often turned into jamming out to favorite tunes and listening to “real music”. He would go to different locations and churches to see and hear the music. He and his son John went to Amsterdam, where they visited many churches and castles. Mike’s love of all creatures never faltered, his backyard was full of life from the seeds he put out for the birds, but many other animals fed on them as well. He enjoyed watching the birds and watching the dogs chase the squirrels that tried to steal their share. His precious dachshund pup Conrad filled his heart with love, much like young boy and his puppy. He adopted Conrad and raised him from 6 weeks of age, and spoiled him rotten. When Gail came into the picture, Conrad had to learn a few rules. The biggest rule was to go outside to take care of business, but most of all, he was NOT to chew Gail’s purse. According to Mike though, Conrad could do no wrong. Mike spent many hours out in the garage loading bullets, though he no longer used those bullets to hunt; but enjoyed taking Gail and anyone who would like to visit the range to practice shooting. It wasn’t uncommon to leave his house with a few Ziploc bags of ammo. You learned quickly if you didn’t want to spend a bunch on ammo to pick up the casings while you were at the range and he would have them ready for you the next time you came to visit. Maybe he taught Gail, if not….the next time you drop in be sure to bring a case of 9MM for her. Mike probably managed to fit 500 years-worth of life in his 71 lived on this Earth and will be sorely missed. Mike is preceded in death by his father Jess Willard Curtis, Sr., his mother Ina Occo Cogburn, and his 1st wife Dana Sue Sexton. He is survived by his siblings Jess Curtis and Elaine Hooper, his wife Gail Lee Curtis, and his children John Michael Curtis, Jr. with wife Finaz, and Kristen Ayn Curtis with her partner Aaron Ebbs. He is also survived by his stepchildren Micah Ray with wife Dayna, Toby Ray with wife Sarah and Dana Nowlin with husband Philip, including his grandchild Zarif Curtis, and step grandchildren Damien Ray, Devin Ray, Grace Martin, Aedan McKinnon, Payton Patrick, Stella Ray, Addisyn Ray, Greyson Nowlin, and Presley Nowlin, and by many other family members. Everyone who remembers him is asked to celebrate Mike’s life in their own way, however raising a glass of their favorite beer in his memory would be quite appropriate. The Addison Family and Staff extend their condolences to the Curtis family.

John Curtis

November 12, 1947 - January 29, 2019