Walter Bruce Currier

Walter Bruce Currier was born May 15, 1947 in Grand Junction, Colorado, the oldest son and second child of Bruce Carpenter and Wilma Marian Harman Currier. He passed away just after midnight February 24, 2025 at his home surrounded by his family.

Walt was born into a ranching family and knew how to do everything that ranching demanded at a young age. He attended Orchard Avenue and Fruitvale elementary schools, Grand Junction Junior High School and Grand Junction High School, graduating in 1965. He played cello in the school orchestras and also in the Mesa College Civic Symphony. He received the Arian Award in orchestra his senior year in high school and a music scholarship from Mesa Junior College, from which he graduated in 1967. He then enrolled at the University of Colorado pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree which he finished in 1970.

Walt was baptized into the First Baptist Church and was active in the youth groups, the choir, and as an adult, on various boards and committees and the handbell choir. At the time of his passing, he was Financial Secretary of the church.

While attending CU he met Phyllis Sue Shannon at a church college youth group. They married on February 8, 1969 at the First Baptist Church in Boulder, Colorado. They were married for 56 years.

Following his graduation from CU, Walt enlisted in the US Air Force and attended OCS at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. While he was there Phyllis gave birth to their first daughter, Melinda, in Grand Junction. Reuniting, they were first stationed at Moody AFB in Georgia where Walt earned his wings, and then at Mather AFB in California. At Mather, their second daughter, Meredith, was born. The family was then at Edwards AFB, California and then back to San Antonio, where their son, Matthew, was born. They also served at Minot AFB, North Dakota, Whiteman AFB, Missouri and finally Plattsburgh AFB in New York. Walt flew planes in which navigators were trained, planes that transported top brass and the C130 refueling tankers. He also had temporary duties at other Air Force Bases including in Alaska and Guam. Along the way Walt earned his MBA. Walt never bragged about his Air Force career to his extended family, saying a lot of what he did was classified anyway. Upon retirement, the family returned to Grand Junction and the ranch but Walt also worked for H & R Block and did some delivery work as well.

Walt kept the ranch machinery working as he was a good amateur mechanic. He was an accomplished horseman spending long hours riding after and behind the cattle or riding the fences. He was also a gifted woodworker, making furniture and art works for family and friends. He took an active part in the education of his grandchildren when they were in Grand Junction as part of their homeschooling. Walt was a voting member of the Mesa County Farm Bureau and was a board member for a number of years. He will be sorely missed but he has been called home to Heaven.

Walt is survived by his wife, Phyllis Sue Shannon Currier, his daughters, Melinda Aileen Shackelford (James) of Grand Junction, and Meredith Sue LaPoint (Pat) of Plattsburgh, New York; and his son, Matthew Walter Currier (Brandi) of Cypress, Texas. He is also survived by two granddaughters, Shannon Rose Currier and Elizabeth Diane Currier and three grandsons, Joshau Matthew Currier, James Ryan Currier and Cameron Ray Currier all from Cypress, Texas. Surviving also are his step-great granddaughters, Clara and Rosalee. He is also survived by a sister Ellen Currier and a brother Glen Currier (Adelaide) of Grand Junction and a niece Addie Currier and nephew Philip (Sasha), two grandnieces Jocelyn and Cadence and grandnephews Caleb and Stephan. Walt was proceeded in death by his parents and sister Arlene Currier.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at the First Baptist Church, 720 Grand Avenue, Grand Junction at 1:00pm.