Max Erle Curry

Max Erle Curry, 84, of Midland, Texas, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2010, following a brief illness. Max was born in Headrick, Oklahoma, on February 1, 1926, to Francis Ray Curry and wife, Tommie Owens Curry, both of whom predeceased him. Max grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Altus High School in 1944, following which he volunteered for the United States Navy and served a tour of duty in the Phillipines, South Pacific Theater as a fire control specialist. While Max was stateside in the Navy, he served as a co-leader of the Navy big band and swing orchestra and toured the country playing his clarinet. After his discharge, Max attended Oklahoma University where he received a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering and was a proud member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Max’s first professional engineering assignment was in Scurry County, Texas, where he worked for Skelly Oil Company. He rose quickly through the organization and was promoted to District Engineer for Skelly’s office in Hobbs, NM, in 1952. He was hired away from Skelly by Buffalo Oil Company to head its Artesia office in 1956, and was moved to District Superintendent in 1958, directing Buffalo’s Permian Basin operations from corporate headquarters in Fort Worth. Buffalo sent Max and his young family to Midland, Texas, in 1960 as part of its newly formed acquisition team. Just about the time he settled into Midland, the owners of Buffalo Oil Company decided to sell the business and Max became an independent operator. Max formed Curry Engineering in 1962 and immediately convinced his brother, Daroyl Ray Curry, then a young engineer in charge of Skelly Oil Company’s waterflood operations, to join him. Together, they operated Curry Engineering for more than 40 years. In 1964, Max, Daroyl, and longtime friend Bill Stapler, formed Solar Oil Company. At the time, Solar was one of the largest independent operating companies in the Permian Basin, operating as many as 31 rigs at one time. Directed by Max, Daroyl and Bill, Solar discovered or extended many oil and gas fields in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas, and innovated new completion and cementing techniques that became industry standards. After Solar, Max continued to work in the oil business with his friend and next door neighbor, J. C. Williamson. Together, they drilled miles of hole to discover and develop significant oil and gas fields in Lea County, NM. Max loved the challenges and the people of the oil business. He continued to work on finding new oil in old, established areas right up until his very last days. For Max, being out in the field and feeling the rumble of the drilling rig or the pounding of the frac trucks was like being a little kid on Christmas morning. Max epitomized the old school oil man; his word was his bond; character and reputation were everything.

Not everything about Max was work, either. He was an accomplished artist, with many amazing oil paintings to his credit. He loved to make fine furniture, and shared a talent for photography with his brother, Daroyl. In his younger days, Max was a scratch golfer. He loved to stand on the tee box during a tournament and say “Watch this”, and then make an impossible shot. Max could play the clarinet and the baritone ukulele, and loved to sing and dance. Most of all, Max was always happy and knew how to share his joy with everyone around him. Max never had a bad day in his life, no matter what was happening or how hard things seemed to be at the moment. Of all the things Max loved most, number one was his family. Max had two siblings, both of whom he adored, Reba Jo Jones of Lubbock, who survives him, and his little brother, best friend and business partner, Daroyl Ray Curry, who recently predeceased him. Max was married three times in his life. His first marriage, to Audrey M. Gaylord Curry, ended in divorce in 1969. His second wife, Sandra, passed away in 1977. In 1979, Max married Florence Marie Essman, who survives him. Max and Flo would have been married 31 years on April 4th of this year. Together, they have nurtured a house full of children, shared many adventures, traveled to Mexico, and enjoyed many good times with close friends Ricki and Charlie Perry, and Charlotte and John Seay. Max’s surviving children and their families include his son, Michel E. Curry and wife, Audrey, of Midland; their children Katherine Ann and husband, Jerrod Inskeep, their daughter Elizabeth, and David W. Curry; Kimberly Rae Culver, of Midland, her children Lawren Rae Robertson and husband Toby; their children Kesmond and Addisyn, and Cory Lanier Culver; Matthew T. P. Curry and wife, Cherie, of Midland, their son Patrick; Charles Curry and wife, Chantal, of Austin, their children Morgan, Elle and Hailey; Max E. Curry, Jr., and wife, Angela, of Mansfield, Texas, their children Max III, Sebastian and Addison; Kelly Curry of Pilot Point; Angela Spencer and husband, Greg, of Midland, their children Natalie, Michael and Emily; Jimmy Essman and wife, Harriett, of Midland, their children Jimmy, Macy and Smith. Other surviving family members include: Lisa Hardaway and husband, Jon; Linda Brandt and husband, Tom; nephew UV Jones III and wife, Ettie B.; all of Midland; nephew Joe David Jones of Austin; and, nephew Stanford T. Curry and wife Trish, of Austin; all of Max’s Sigma Chi brothers, and good friends too numerous to count. The family will receive friends at Ellis Funeral Home, Monday, March 29, 2010 between the hours of 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.

Funeral services have been scheduled for 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Pallbearers are grandsons, David Curry, Cory Culver, Patrick Curry, Max Curry III, Sebastian Curry, Michael Spencer and Jimmy Essman. Honorary Pallbearers are T. L. Gramling, of Altus, OK; William L. Willey, of Oklahoma City, OK; Roberts L. “Bones” Lincecum, of Houston, TX; Charles W. Perry, of Midland; John R. Seay, of Midland; and Dr. John Staub, also of Midland. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to: Hospice of Midland, P. O. Box 2621, Midland, TX 79702, or to a charity of your choice. Max will be missed, but will live on in our hearts.