On January 30, 2015, a story that began on December 11, 1932 in Otto, North Carolina, came to an end. George Edward Curtis was a wonderful man. His was the story of the best father; husband, brother, son, and friend that anyone could ever have. It's the story of someone who never acted in anger and was always ready to forgive. He was a kind and loving man, and would befriend anyone willing to speak to him. In his journal he shares, "I did not lay claim to any fame. Just be a friend, and make a friend." He loved his country and served in the Air Force Special Weapons Squadron with the Strategic Air Command for four years where he was assigned to Morocco and Iceland. When his time there was finished, he devoted the rest of his life to serving God and taking care of his family.
Being a certified lay-speaker for Asbury Methodist Church and assisting in the Mountain Top Walk to Emmaus were dear to him. He also took these responsibilities seriously in his everyday life, whether cheering on kids at t-ball, coaching little league, or quietly reading spiritual literature in thoughtful self-reflection. This faith governed his duties as a supervisor, and his dedication to the employees at Burlington Mills, as evidenced by another quote in his journal, "I consider myself a Christian and everyone who worked for me in the workplace were treated accordingly."
He loved cars and racing (particularly in his young days!), was a devout Duke fan, and spent years pursuing the study of his genealogy. His love of nature is evidenced by the plants in his beautiful yard, the spontaneous picnics in the mountains, his toiling in many summer gardens, and lately the winters he spent hand-carving animals. He writes, “I have seen most of the world, and I have never been anywhere else that took away my desire to return to these mountains... Nothing could be more relaxing than to sit out on the front porch in the evening and listen to a whippoorwill call out, These-ole-hills, These-ole-hills."
"I think of walking arm-in-arm with the Holy Spirit. This means no turning back, no running ahead, or lagging behind. God allows us to stumble and make mistakes and then he allows the Holy Spirit to rescue us. This is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no arguments, just understanding. If you understand, and show that you understand, you can love and live in harmony with others." These were not simply his words in his journal; they were words he lived by.
All of his family would be a testament to the man he was. He profoundly touched all of our lives and we are all the better because of him. This includes those who have gone on before him: his wife Wilba Jean Jamison "Toots" Curtis (and her entire family whom he loved as his own family), his father Prince Quarry Curtis and his mother, Cora Lee McCall Curtis, his brother, William Lennie Curtis and sister, Bernice Curtis Wood. It also includes those of us left to mourn his absence: his brother, Byrom Keith Curtis, his sisters Margie Ann Curtis and Mary Hazel Curtis Phillips, close family Linda Wood Williams, Brandon Williams, and Amanda Williams, his daughter-in-law, Kelley Vaughn Curtis and most of all I, his son, Dale Edward Curtis. I can never repay God for the blessing you have been to me, and my heart aches as never before at our loss of you. I love you and will forever miss you Dad.
Funeral Service will be held at 2 pm Monday, February 2, in the Chapel of Macon Funeral Home. Rev. Janet Greene and Rev. Kelly Dotson will officiate. Burial will be in the Rush Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, February 1, at Macon Funeral Home.
Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com

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