Nina Sherwood Curran

Nina Sherwood Curran was born October 28, 1922, in Lima, Montana to a railroad engineer and a homemaker. The Sherwoods moved to Pocatello, Idaho soon after in 1923. As the only daughter in the middle of six sons, she shared the role of caretaker with her mother, but that didn’t keep her from learning how to negotiate and stand up for herself. Nina grew into a pretty and vivacious girl making many friends along the way. Some of those friends became sisters-in-law while one of her brother’s friends took a shine to her. Her mother’s instructions in the art of baking taught her to use experience and intuition when deciding if something looked just right. Apparently, Emmett Eugene (Jean) Curran passed the audition. He worked at the Coca-Cola factory alongside her brothers until he, like many young men, enlisted to fight in WW2. Meanwhile she went to business school, took a job as a secretary, and corresponded with her beau through letters. After many daring and dangerous sorties across the English Channel including on D-Day, Major Curran returned home with ribbons and medals and a proposal of marriage.

Thus began Nina’s career as a military wife on October 11, 1944. Nina had all the required assets—she was supportive, hardworking, creative, and most of all adaptable. With children in tow (Emmett Jr. (Jean) in 1945, Jon in 1948, Casey in 1954), she followed her husband from post to post across the country and the world. From Idaho she and the family traveled to Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Washington DC, Syria, Virginia, Venezuela, and finally back to Colorado—each time setting up a new home and enrolling the kids in a new school. In addition, Jean’s foreign diplomatic assignments as the Air Attache had brought her in touch with the famous and powerful—Arab leaders, Prince Phillip, and JFK and Jackie. Though she had maids and cooks outside the US, she remained down-to-earth and humble. While stationed abroad, there were visits to cities along the Mediterranean, Near East, Caribbean, Central America, and the East Coast of America. Jean’s last post was in Colorado Springs in 1963 where once again Nina set up shop. With the oldest son off at college she welcomed her last but certainly not least child, Jerri in 1965. Jean retired as a Colonel from the military in 1966 and began civilian work for The Defense Department. Nina and Jean loved Colorado and they remained there for the rest of their life together.

Nina was the epitome of Mother. She was a marvelous cook and the smell of homemade bread and jam, chocolate chip cookies, and Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners enticed children to come home as often as possible. She made sure there were activities to entertain everyone—sledding, volleyball, and badminton—board games, word games, made-up crazy games like juggling eggs in a spoon while running—conversations about the past and current events. Holidays were feasts for both eyes and stomachs with all the trimmings and traditions. We even got Christmas stockings and Easter baskets well past childhood. She dried tears, settled fights, applauded triumphs, and spoke words to live by. Once when the boys were fighting over splitting a Coke, she settled it with, “One of you gets to divide it, the other gets to choose first.” Words of wisdom from the Diaper Diplomat. In 1983, Jean and his wife Marcia had a baby girl, Alison Lindsey, and she relished her role as Grandma. Aunt Nina also kept in touch with her brothers and their offspring through letters, calls, and visits, ever the emotional center of her extended family. And of course, there was always a menagerie of furry and feathered friends in the Curran household.

As her children left for college, got married and/or moved away, she settled into her empty nest by finding creative pursuits. After Jean retired for the second time in 1983, they traveled together to visit family and friends while Nina joined a ladies Mystery Trip travel group. She and Jean delved into their family histories to reconnect with the Irish Currans and discover the Sherwood link to the Mayflower (Richard Warren, one of the passengers, is a distant relative). She enrolled in a class at the nearby community college to study oil painting. Landscapes and still life were her forte and her beautiful works hang on our walls to this day. In addition to crafts and jigsaw puzzles, she enjoyed reading, especially mysteries and spy thrillers, and stayed abreast of the news. Time and People magazines and the latest Janet Evanovitch novel were often found on end and bedside tables. Dad Jean and Nina actively kept in touch with the friends they’d gathered from around the world. Several from The Attache Group had settled in the Springs area and they alternated hosting dinner parties. She also joined a Bible Study group which provided a spiritual connection and companionship.

These groups and interests proved invaluable when Jean suddenly passed away in 1997. With these friends and her family to support her, she was able to stay involved in life. Her Colorado based children helped with home upkeep, errands, and appointments but she stayed in her own home until 2017, when she moved with Casey to California to be near son Jean & Marcia. Though her physical health declined over time needing a move from assisted living to a group home for care, her mind remained sharp. She loved telling (and we loved hearing) the stories of her life, surprising us with her detailed recollections. Her humor could brighten any day. Once in a conversation about using the internet to search for an answer to a question, she replied, “Just giggle it.” And that’s what her family will do. We will laugh through our tears and chuckle as we remember our memories of her. Nina passed away on May 31, 2024— National Smile Day. So fitting, as her smile will remain on our faces and in our hearts forever.

Nina is survived by her children and granddaughter—Emmett Eugene II(Jean) & Marcia Curran of Lincoln, CA; Jon Sherwood & Diana Curran of Parker, CO; Cathryn Helen (Casey) Curran of Lincoln, CA; Jerri Lynn Curran of Colorado Springs, CO; Alison Lindsey & Dan Rich of New York City, NY. She also has many nieces, nephews, and cousins who will miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, and her husband. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Jean, at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs.

Services will be private, for immediate family only