Samuel Frederick Curtis

Samuel or “Fred” was born in Safford, Arizona on June 22, 1918, to Ammon and Mary Jane Curtis. He married Emmeline Hastings on May 28, 1941, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Together they enjoyed 64 years of marriage. Soon after Emmeline passed, he met Alta Black. On November 12, 2005, they were married and enjoyed twelve happy years together until Alta’s passing.

Fred was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served a mission to Pre-WWII Germany. When WWII began, he was reassigned to the Central States mission in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he finished his missionary service. After their children were grown, He and Emmeline served a mission together as Public Relations missionaries in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Mission. They later served a second mission in the Mesa Genealogy Library.

Fred worked most of his life in farming and was an enthusiastic entrepreneur. He loved working on his vehicles and took great pride in making them last far beyond their normal lifespan. He was very frugal and embodied the phrase, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” He was always engaged in some project or working to finance one.

Fred was always willing to help others in need, especially those in his own family. He was very witty and loved to lift everyone’s spirits with a good joke. He will be dearly missed by his family, over which he presided for so many years.

He is survived by 3 daughters, Carol Curtis Hatch (Fred), Claudia Curtis Lines (John), Gayle Curtis Stanworth (Bill), one son, J. Mark Curtis (Alesa), and two stepchildren, Robynn Sheahan and Karen Parker (Clif). He was preceded in death by his wife Emmeline, second wife Alta, and his two sons Samuel F. Curtis Jr. (Carlene), and Alton Craig Curtis (JoAnna). He is also preceded in death by his parents, all his siblings, and 7 grandchildren. He leaves behind 43 grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren, 179 g-grandchildren and 4 step-g-grandchildren, and 41 g-g-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Oct. 8 at 11:00am in the Hampton Ward Chapel located at 1007 S. 72nd St. Mesa, AZ. Fred will be buried at the Mesa City Cemetery.