Mary Elaine Curtis

Mary Elaine Curtis, the youngest of eight children, of Sarah May (Foxworthy) and Joseph Henry Churchman, was born near Northboro, Iowa on February 14, 1915. As a young child, she moved with her family to the Strahan and Randolph, Iowa area. Mary Elaine graduated from the Strahan Consolidated High School with the Class of 1933.
Mary Elaine and Virgil Wayne Curtis were married in Corning, Iowa on September 23, 1933. They made their home west of Strahan and were blessed with three children; Donna Lorriane who died in infancy, Sharon Sue, and Larry Ronald.
Mary Elaine enjoyed her role as a homemaker and mother and was always active in her church and community. She was a member of the Strahan United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, and the Women's Society of Christian Service. Mary Elaine was also a member of the Social County Dozen Club and a 50 year member of the Order of Eastern Star. She was a cook at the Strahan School and always enjoyed being around young people. Her skills in the kitchen were known far and wide and she was artistically talented. She had a strong interest in painting, and was a gifted seamstress. Mary Elaine created beautiful handwork and crocheting until her eyes became effected by macular degeneration.
Mary Elaine and Vigil had been married 67 years when Virgil died on November 25, 2000. Mary Elaine continued to live at her home. In the year's following Virgil's death, Mary Elaine began to struggle with Alzheimer's Disease and eventually moved to the Good Samaritan Center in Red Oak, Iowa. Mary Elaine died at the Good Samaritan Center on December 18, 2004, having attained the age of 89 years, 10 months, and 4 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter Donna Curtis; husband Virgil Curtis; sisters Bessie Anderson, Ollie Bateman, Hattie Trively, and Gladys Young; and brothers Arthur Churchman, Coy Churchman, and Ernest Churchman.
Mary Elaine is survived by her children Larry Ronald Curtis and his wife Patricia of Hastings, IA, and Sharon Foss and her husband David of Tucson, AZ; brother-in-law Lowell Curtis and his wife Kathryn of Malvern, AR; sister-in-law Leiselotte Curtis of Emerson, IA; grandchildren Debora Frazee and her husband William of Emerson, IA, Dennis Curtis and his wife Kim of St. Charles, MO, Vicki Wulf and her husband David of Omaha, NE, Scott Foss of Tucson, AZ, Tanya Foss Pritchard and her husband David of Dresden, Germany; 8 great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Mary Elaine, always ready with a helping hand, was a dear sweet lady, a great mother, grandmother, and loyal friend who will be greatly missed.