LaVern Curtis

LaVern Curtis, 82, of Mt. Pleasant died Friday, May 7, 2004 at the Isabella County Medical Care Facility in Mt. Pleasant.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, May 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant with Father Robert Byrne officiating. Burial will be in New Calvary Cemetery in Midland at 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Friends may call at Lux Funeral Home on Sunday from 3-8 p.m. with a vigil service beginning at 7:30 p.m. Visitation continues at the church on Monday from 10-11 a.m.

LaVern was born November 15, 1921 in Vestaburg, Michigan to Elmer and Sylvia (St. Peters) Curtis. He attended Michigan schools and married Edwardine Carey February 23, 1952 in Michigan. They moved to Ohio to live due to his work schedule at that time.

He was a devoted husband of 52 years, loyal friend and neighbor, was a very industrious worker and always helped anyone in need.

LaVern was formerly a member of St. Mary, Queen of the Rosary Church, Strykersville, New York for 37 years. He has been a member of Sacred Heart Church, Mt. Pleasant since 1998.

LaVern was a member of The Michigan National Guard after serving in World War II. He belonged to the New York area American Legion for 23 years and the Mt. Pleasant American Legion for six years. He was a life member of the New York State Skeet Shooting Association.

He was employed at Dow Chemical Company until he reported for active duty in the U.S. Army. LaVern was a Technical Sergeant in the 18th Field Artillery Battalion and the 283rd Field Artillery Battalion, serving in the Rhine River area, Central Germany, Munch-Dachaw and Berchtesgaden in World War II. LaVern was among the first Americans to liberate Dachaw.

LaVern returned to Dow Chemical Briefly. He then worked for H.L. Gentry Construction Company of Jackson, Michigan for 27 years as a Field Superintendent, constructing pipelines in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia and New York State. He was the General Manager of the New York Division. One of his proud accomplishments was installing a pipeline under the Niagara Falls River, one of the longest pipelines from Edmonton, Canada to Niagara Falls, New York.

He and his friend, Leo Turcotte organized their company, Curtis and Turcotte in 1972, installing cable work on existing lines in New York State for ten years. He was an inspector for several companies in 1995 until retirement.

LaVern and Edwardine lived in many states due to his work schedule. They returned to their Mt. Pleasant home roots in 1998.

He enjoyed his family, friends, church, work, fishing, hunting, skeet-shooting, cards, his special hobby of planting oak trees and traveling. He especially cherished the extensive Alaskan trip with family friend, Merle Etzel, as well as many family trips with wife, Edwardine, with Dale, Colleen, Lisa and Padraic Bywater to Hawaii, Western Canada, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland.

LaVern is survived by his wife, Edwardine of Mt. Pleasant; two sisters, Agnes Mills of Iowa and Eva (Karl) Anderson of Midland; brother, Irvin Curtis of Rosebush; sister-in-law, Colleen (Carey) Bywater, her husband, Dale and their daughter Lisa, all of Midland; several nieces, nephews, cousins and many treasured friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marie Strait; two brothers, Andrew and Richard; mother-in-law, Anna (Mitchell) Carey; father-in-law, €œIrish€ Ed Carey; and nephew, Pat Bywater.

In lieu of flowers or plants, those desiring a lasting remembrance of LaVern may wish to consider the Pat Bywater Memorial Scholarship or the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation. Envelopes are available at Lux Funeral Home.

The Curtis and Bywater families express profound appreciation to everyone who has prayed, supported and kindly encouraged LaVern and dear ones these challenging years.

May God's blessings of each day, be the blessings you need most.