Ardella Curtis

Ardella Curtis   13 September 1940   18 January 2025

     Beloved Mother, Ardella Curtis was born as Florence Ardella Bryant, Friday September 13, 1940 in Baker City, Oregon to William J. “Bill” and Lulu Beatrice (Schwarz) Bryant in the old St.
Elizabeth Hospital. Passed away while in hospice care at Grand Ronde Retirement Residence in La Grande, Oregon.

     For a long time she was an only child, because two infant brother and sister preceded her shortly after their births.  Ardella spent her first several years at the Bar J Ranch (formerly the pioneer David Littlefield Ranch near the ghost-town Auburn.

     Her great accomplishment is being July 4th Rodeo Queen in July 1953 at age of 12. This is because she was already very skilled with the horses. (Photos can be seen online, link down
below). At age of 3 she already owned 9 horses. Loved to be in the parades several times. She worked  a few years in the old diner café at corner of Geiser Grand Hotel, the one with entrance at
the corner - carousel doors.

     Ardella married Theodore Craig “Ted C.” Samuelsen, 18 September 1955 at the home of her parents which was middle of the half block at 15th Street where horses and chicken were kept (at
the time her mother owned the whole half block). Divorced 1959. Married Alvin Eugene “Gene” Curtis 14 Apr il 1963 at the home of her mother (the pink house on the corner of 15th and
Auburn, practically next door!) Divorced 1971. Has been on her own since then.

    Mom had 4 children,  David “Chris” Samuelsen, the only son, Salt Lake City.  Also surviving her are 1st cousins, Charlotte Bryant of Baker City and Dr. M. Roy
Schwarz of Winchester, Virginia

     Preceding her were her daughters Sherril Corning (2021), Connie Jean Curtis (2014) her parents (1972 and 1995), baby brother William Roy “Sonny” (1944), baby sister Donna Marie (1946), her big brother Carl Euener Magill (1982), her grandparents John J “JJ” (1965) and Arabella (Swain) Bryant (1951), and Frank Severe (1960) and Florence (Main) (1951) Schwarz, uncles and aunts, Floyd Euener (Annie & Ora) Bryant, Earl Henry (Beatrice) Bryant and Willetta Lou (George “Ted”) Bryant, Roy (Hulda) Schwarz, Fenton (Ruby) Schwarz, 1st cousins Dorothy  McDaniel, Everett Bryant, Lorraine (Bob) Manning, Hazel (James) Steadman, Lemoine “Kay” Hatley and numerous more cousins including one 1st cousin she missed the most - Ralph Schwarz who shared same birth day but a year apart.

     Thanks to the hospice workers for looking after our Mom and to Mary Armstrong for taking care of her prior to the hospice and staying with her through the year long hospice.
Inurnment graveside services will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker City July 30, 2025, 10:30 am.

     Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com

To see a lot of photos of Mom, over the years from 1940 to present, see  https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/LN5H-K6P