Mozelle Curtis

Mozelle Curtis was born in Wheeler Texas on August 22, 1930 and passed into the loving arms of Jesus in Hanford, California on August 10, 2022 with her family by her side. She was 91 years old and just 12 days shy of her 92nd birthday.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband of 69 years, Bill Curtis and also her parents Winnie Wilson and Milton (Mitt) Wilson of Texas. She is survived by her son Gary Curtis and his wife Joyce of Hanford, CA, her daughter Deborah Smythe and her husband Dan of Lynden, WA. She is also survived by grandchildren Danette Curtis of Hanford, CA, Denise Lahiji and husband Arad of Torrance, CA, Shannon Smythe and husband Kevin Subers of Pennsylvania, Samuel Smythe and wife Brieanna of Gunnison, Colorado, and step-grandaughter Alexa Arnold and husband Josiah of Clovis. CA. Great grandchildren Micah Subers, Evan Smythe, Julian Silva, Alex Silva, Ian Silva and Ella Arnold.

Mozelle, was the sixth child out of seven children born to Texas farmers and cattle ranchers. She grew up in the rural Texas Panhandle on the family farm and did her share of the daily chores as required of the children. Her family worked hard all week and were in church on Sundays to worship the Lord and to rest afterwards.

While Mozelle was in high school, she was involved in school activities along with sports and she played on the girls basketball team. After graduating from high school, her parents had paid for her first semester at Abilene Christian College. She enjoyed school because it made her feel free. At the semester break, she went to go visit with her older brother Dale and his wife Margaret, who were living in Silver City, New Mexico. While she was visiting them she happened to meet this handsome guy named Bill Curtis. He was, in her eyes “Mr. Right”. They struck up a relationship that blossomed into falling in love and Mozelle made up her mind she was not going back to ACC. Her father and mother, who had already paid for the next semester of her schooling, were upset at her and tried persuading her to go back to school and finish her education. She refused! Her father, giving her some sound and stern advice said “Now Mozelle, if he really loves you, he’ll be there when you finish school.” She quickly replied, “I’m not going to take that chance.”

Bill and Mozelle were married in Silver City, New Mexico on October 30, 1949. Up until the time of her passing, she still claimed, that was the best decision she ever made in her life, other than being baptized into Christ. Bill’s work took them from Silver City, New Mexico, to Winslow, Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, Alamogordo, New Mexico, and ultimately to Southern California, where they laid down some more permanent roots. Along the way, they had their two children and while Bill was busy working in the Aerospace Industry, Mozelle stayed at home raising their children and volunteering her time at church and at the school where their children attended. Her volunteerism became more like a job as she rose to the position of Parent-Teachers Association President. She headed up numerous fund raising projects that helped fund school projects, book fairs, school supplies and many other educational benefits for the school. She received awards locally and at the State level for her selfless efforts.

After the kids were gone from the house, Mozelle decided she wanted to keep herself busy somehow, so she took jobs working at local Department stores, Buffums and Bullocks in the Fine China, Crystal, and Silverware departments. She had always been very keen on the latest dining wares and her customers would come in specifically requesting her for their formal dining needs. She loved every minute of it along with the people she worked with.

After Bill retired, they moved to Hanford to be close to their son and his family. Once here, they poured themselves into the work of the Hanford Church of Christ as they became their church family. Mozelle volunteered in many capacities, but most memorable for her was volunteering her time at Valley Christian Home. She enjoyed working in the beauty salon helping out with manicures, pedicures, and hair grooming for the senior citizens there. She loved interacting with the residents there and working with the other ladies who volunteered there. It was truly a labor of love. Mozelle and Bill both were very active as members of the Kings Art Center. They loved helping support and promote the Arts here in this area.

In later years Mozelle became the care giver for the love of her life, Bill. She enlisted the help of her granddaughter, Danette as caring for Bill became too much for her. This became a labor of love for all of them. Bill loved having his granddaughter around and Mozelle loved having someone around to help her and to spend time doing fun and sometimes silly things with. Bill often said he loved listening to those two yack back and forth and laugh at the silliest of things. Danette loved being with them as much or more than they loved having her there. Danette was with them to the very end of these two beautiful lives and the rest of us are richer for having known them and having been loved by them.

As we celebrate Mozelle’s life, we know this is not the end of her story as some in the world would say. This is the beginning of a new chapter in an eternal story that goes on forever. We adored her and her love lives on in us! Thank you Lord, for putting her in our lives!