Nathaniel Coleman Curtis

“Be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32. This was the favorite Bible verse of many favorite verses of Nathaniel Coleman Curtis, 89, who passed from this life Thursday, November 16th, in his residence surrounded by his loving family, grateful for having been blessed with such a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend, counselor, and mentor who exemplified the Christian warrior, ambitious not for his own sake, but for that of the cause of Christ. A more kindly man rarely strode upon the earth, as he was guided daily by the Faith that sustained and directed his path.

“Nathan” as he was known, was born February 3, 1928 in Baton Rouge, to the union of William Thomas Curtis, Sr., and Maudine Alice Curtis (Tingle), both originally from Mississippi. Nathan grew up in the country north of Baton Rouge in the community of Pride, La., where he learned the work ethic of country living in a large family. A studious young man, he graduated with honors from Pride High School, Class of 1945, as Salutatorium, and was awarded a 4 year academic scholarship to LSU. After his 1st year in college he enlisted in the U.S. Army in time to gain status as a World War II veteran, and served in the occupation of Korea, from January 1947 to July 1948. After his honorable discharge, he returned to LSU for a year, then worked for several newspapers as circulation manager, from Baton Rouge to Alamosa, Colorado, then to Jennings, La.

In 1953 he married Joyce Broussard of Gueydan and moved to Jennings. This union produced 3 children, Tommy, Phyllis and April. In 1962 the family moved to Lake Charles where he worked in the insurance business, having success with Metropolitan Life and John Hancock. In 1974 he established Curtis Insurance Agency, which is currently owned and run by his children, Phyllis and Tommy. He was for a time President and Man of the Year for the Southwest Louisiana Life Underwriters Association and an instructor of the Life Underwriters Training Council (LUTC).

As a man with a heart for public service and community leadership, while in Jennings he was President of the Jennings Lions Club, and was one of three founders of the, “Lions Camp for Crippled Children” in Leesville. He also served as a state board member for the Easter Seal Society. In Lake Charles he ran a vigorous though unsuccessful campaign in 1980 for election to the Lake Charles City Council. He chaired the Town Meeting Committee in Lake Charles which successfully organized simultaneous Town Meetings in each City Council District. One of the founders of Parents and Friends from Drug Free Youth, he wrote, in 1980, a Neighborhood Drug Education Plan which received recognition by national leaders in the field of drug abuse prevention. He personally organized successful local Get Out the Vote (G.O.V.) Campaign (non-partisan) at the grass roots level. He was organizer and founder in 1995 of Conservative Christian Resource Group, a local discussion and action group. For a few years he ran the Men’s Shelter for the Salvation Army food tent for the workers in New York City at ground zero following the terrorist attack on the twin towers.

A true Southern Gentlemen and son of the South with a passion for history, Nathan took pride in his heritage and was an active member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans in Lake Charles, holding several local and state offices of leadership in that organization, attending state and national conventions. He attended and even took part in several Civil War reenactments with his son, Tommy.

A Bible scholar and proactive Christian, he exhibited strong leadership in local churches, serving as deacon and Sunday school teacher for many years, and serving on membership committees. He was a past chairman of Moral & Social Concerns Committee for a church association with more than 60 churches.

Nathan’s passion and energies for talk radio led him in 1991 to be the co-host of KAOK Talk Radio on the “Tell it Like it is” show with Ed Prendergast. Later he hosted his own program, “The Nathan Curtis Show” on KAOK, with a conservative talk/interview format. In 1994 he moved into Christian radio broadcasting, for a time managing KOJO radio and hosting a one hour daily interview program called, “An Encouraging Word” with more than 1500 interviews with local church and community leaders conducted over a 3 year period.

For the last 6 years he was the host of a two hour daily program he created called, “Church and State” on KELB radio in Lake Charles. He felt that the so-called separation of Church and State were, in fact, inseparable as to good government, as a true republic rests on the virtue of the people for an orderly and moral society. He sought to bridge that gap with programming that would illustrate the indispensable support of a moral society with a Christian society and the influence of Christian based moral precepts that preceded the foundation of the nation we love, and for which he had served. To that end he interviewed church leaders and pastors for one hour, and then local and state officials the second hour, connecting the two with depth and insights in revealing the necessity of that connection of influence in pursuit of the happiness of civil society, and therefore, and ultimately, better government.

A man of deep intellect, passion for good causes, a lover of his country, and soldier for Christ, his wisdom informed by biblical understanding, Nathan was sought often for his opinions and ideas in business, political, church and personal concerns. In victory or defeat, he was the same man, and unwavering in principle and conviction. A member of “The Greatest Generation,” by today’s standards he was a rare man of rare qualities, and his influence and impression on those he touched was palpable and lasting. There is a saying, “If you would be loved, then love and be lovable” and that was Nathan Curtis. With his passing, the world is a lesser place. A favorite Old Testament verse of his was Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” and Nathan walked the walk, and invited all who would, to walk with him.

He is survived by his sweet wife, Nancy Curtis, his children, Tommy Curtis and Phyllis Curtis, a grandson, Daniel Blake Curtis, his loving step-daughters Staci Widcamp and husband Durwin, and Cindy Natali and husband Kevin, and a step-grandson, Fisher Natali, and two step-granddaughters, Kaitlyn Opal and Hailey Opal. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Curtis, his second wife Margaret Curtis, and a daughter, April Curtis.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, November 20, 2017 at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Visitation will be at Hixson Funeral Home on Sunday, November 19, 2017 from 5:00-9:00 pm and will resume at the funeral home on Monday, from 9:00 am until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Prien Memorial Park. The family would like to thank Christus St. Patrick’s Hospice for their loving care they showed. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to KELB Radio, 113 Williamsburg Street, Lake Charles, LA. 70605. The phone number is 337-433-9229. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.