Curtis James Norris

While growing up in California Curtis played football in high school, which led him to play football in college at Eastern Oregon University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics. It was also where he met his wife Diane Norris.

After college Curtis and Diane moved to Portland Oregon where they got married and a year later had their first child, Curtis James Norris Jr. They welcomed their second child, Lauren Jean Norris, in 1989. Curtis worked 32 years, starting as a warehouse loader for Pepsi Co., and worked his way up to the operations manager at McLane Co.

In 2012 Curtis was diagnosed with end stage renal disease, which meant that he needed dialysis treatments. He did the treatments 3 days a week while continuing to work full time. He did this for 15 years, he would go to dialysis at night until 1:00AM, and then come home to sleep before heading to work at 7:00AM. He went on to retire in July of 2022.

While in retirement Curtis continued with his dialysis treatments, but also had time to enjoy his hobbies of cheering on his Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Curtis also enjoyed going and cheering on his grandchildren while they played their various sports. Curtis had a great sense of humor, he was a kind, strong, loving, and selfless person. He was a great husband, a caring father, loving grandfather, and a wonderful friend. Curtis never complained about anything, he never let his diagnosis stop him from living the life he wanted to live. He said he would just play the cards he had been dealt.

Curtis is survived by his wife Diane, his son Curtis, his daughter, Lauren, his grandchildren Maya and Trey, his aunt Vela, his sister Leslie, and his cousins Rene, Gayle, Tracey and Ericka.