Marie Ray Curtis of Houston, Texas passed away on September 10, 2021 at her home at Autumn Leaves. Marie was born in a one-room cabin in Blackjack, Texas on June 16, 1932 to Imogen and Ollie Ray. She lived on her grandfather George Ray’s farm where they grew sugar cane and made syrup. She was the youngest of five, with two older sisters Faye and Lola and two older brothers Hubert and Preston.
When Marie was about four or five years old, her daddy bought his own farm about 20 miles away. They lived on the farm until she was in the second grade when they moved to Rockdale, Texas. She graduated from Rockdale High School in 1949. Later that year, Marie attended the University of Mary Harden Baylor in Belton, Texas where she met a fly boy from Killeen Air Base. They married in September of 1950 and shortly thereafter he was transferred to Saginaw, Michigan. This was the first time Marie had ventured outside of the State of Texas. After a short stay in Saginaw, they moved to Idaho where he was from and he took a job with the Atomic Energy Commission.
Marie enjoyed skiing, sledding and many other activities with her family and friends in Idaho.
Marie’s first son Dennis was born in June 1953 and her second son John in November 1955. Her daughter Tonya was born in March 1964.
The cold, snow and other factors soon became too much for Marie so she divorced her husband and moved back to Texas with her children. Thereafter, she finished college and got her degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. She moved to Fort Worth in 1967 where she worked for 30 years as an accountant.
During that time, she attended Travis Avenue Baptist Church where she met Royce Curtis in her Sunday school class. She would often say that it was love at first sight and she chased him until he caught her. Royce had three children of his own, Bill, Nancy and Kathy. Royce and Marie were married for forty-nine years and nine months until his passing in November 2019.
Royce and Marie taught single adults at Birchman Baptist Church for several years, including many seminary students from all over the world. They traveled quite a lot to visit their children, grandchildren, family and friends. Marie said many times that they would stay home only long enough to earn enough money for their next travel adventure. Marie also spent a lot of time working with middle school and high school girls teaching them God’s word and how to be a charming lady.
In 2009, Royce and Marie moved to Katy, Texas and quickly became involved in Kingsland Baptist Church where they made many new friends. Marie continued to open her home and entertain many old and new friends. Hospitality was her passion and she practiced her gift with elegance and grace, most often in her trademark high heels. She dearly loved her family, southern cooking, decorating and crafting, especially during the holidays.
Marie is survived by her children Dennis Swanson of Montana and Tonya Wright of Houston, Texas; stepdaughter Nancy Adams of Center, Texas. She was lovingly known as Mimi, Neenaw or Grandma to nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren and honorary Grandma to many others. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her four siblings, her son John Swanson and her stepchildren Bill Curtis and Kathy Statler.
The family would like to thank Autumn Leaves of Memorial City for the wonderful care they provided to our dear mother. Please consider making a donation to Kingsland Baptist Church Missions Ministry in Marie Curtis’ name.
A visitation for Marie will be held Monday, September 20, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, September 21, 2021 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at Kingsland Baptist Church, 20555 Kingsland Blvd, Katy, TX 77450. A reception will occur Tuesday, September 21, 2021 from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM at Kingsland Baptist Church, 20555 Kingslang Blvd, Katy, TX 77450.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AmericanHeritageFuneralHome.com for the Curtis family.
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