David "Dave" Curtis

David Orcutt Curtis went to be with the Lord on May 8, 2021 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Baker City, Oregon surrounded by family. A memorial service will be held Friday, May 21st ~ 11 a.m. at the Harvest Christian Church. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception following the service at the church, food and refreshments will be provided. 

Dave was born November 19, 1934 in Baker, Oregon to Edmund (Ted) and Marion (Jo) Hauser Curtis. He was the second of 4 children. He was raised in Baker where he attended school and made lifelong friends. In 1952, Dave graduated from Baker High School and went on to Oregon College of Education in La Grande on a football scholarship. He left college to join the Army and was stationed with an anti-aircraft battalion in Skokie, Illinois as a radarman. It was here that he was introduced to his future wife, Carol Uttenreuther. He boxed for his unit where his buddies labeled him "Clobbering Curt" as he won the Kenosha Golden Gloves light-heavyweight crown. 

He was discharged from the army in 1956 and married Carol on January 14, 1957 in Baker. He attended Southwestern State College in Weatherford, Oklahoma before they moved to Illinois where he became a salesman for Cream Crest Farms. In 1963, he took a job with Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan and moved his family to Baker. He worked 36 years for the bank, many of them as the branch manager, retiring as Underwriter in 1999.

He was actively involved in the community, umpiring and coaching Little League and joining the Kiwanis. He volunteered many years for the district and state basketball tournaments, ran the chains at Baker High and Shriners' Football games, and ministered at the Powder River Correctional Facility. He volunteered for many things; he couldn't say "no". His family was very proud when he received the Legacy Man of the Year in 2005.

Dave's greatest passions were the Lord and his family. All of their children were in sports, he and Carol wouldn't miss an event! If one child was playing at home, Dave would be there while Carol would "hitch a ride' to support another child elsewhere. They traveled many miles for all of their children. When Dave came after work, Carol would have a seat saved next to her. When the grandchildren started sports, it was the same story but this time they traveled together.

Dave loved the outdoors, getting out to hunt, snowmobile, waterski, ride motorcycles or 4-wheelers, and taking the family to the mountains.

Dave is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carol, his sons Don (Lenora), Dan, Dave (Lori,) and Dale Curtis, daughters  Arlene (Jerry) Spangler and Marla (Jon) Henricks,17 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, brother Linden (Cheryl), brothers-in-law Bill (LaDonna) and Tom Uttenreuther, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, sister Jacqueline and baby sister Jennifer.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in honor of Dave, the family suggests either St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute or St. Jude's Children's Hospital through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com