Mathew Steven Curtiss was born on March 24, 1990, the first son to Steven Curtiss and Sandra Kern. He was raised in Redding, California, where he attended Lassen View Elementary School, later moving on to Parsons Junior High School, and graduating from Enterprise High School in 2008.
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In his young years he developed a strong love for video gaming, as most kids his age did. He carried that love through his lifetime. At one point, he even began collecting every type of video game system ever made back to the first-generation Nintendo system. He loved harassing everyone to ‘join his party’ and being in control of the team he assembled to dominate whatever game he conned them into playing.
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Following high school, Mathew spent a couple of years enjoying life with friends and growing into adulthood. At the age of 20, he felt called to serve his country and began exploring military options, ultimately choosing the United States Air Force. In March 2010, Mathew boarded the MEPS mobile to Sacramento, where he proudly swore in with his mother, father, and stepmother by his side. That day also marked his very first airplane flight as he departed for Air Force Basic Training.
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Mathew attended boot camp in San Antonio, Texas. Though the experience was challenging, he pushed through with determination and graduated on time. It was later discovered that the physical strain he endured was compounded by a fracture in his tibia, making the marching and running especially painful; yet he never quit.
After basic training, Mathew was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he attended tech school for Air Traffic Control. During his time there, he also assisted with cleanup efforts following the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
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Upon returning home, Mathew began working at Jack in the Box, where in 2014 he met the love of his life, Kimberly. Their relationship quickly blossomed, and before long they were proud to move into their first apartment together.
As they built their life side by side, Mathew searched for a fulfilling civilian career. He found his calling as a pharmacy technician, joining Rite Aid, which supported him through his training. Known for his intelligence and focus, Mathew passed both his state and national pharmacy tech exams with ease.
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For Christmas one year, Kimberly wanted to add a dog to their family. Mathew didn’t love the idea but loved Kim and reluctantly agreed. In 2016, Dee became the newest Curtiss family member. Much to Mathew’s chagrin, Dee claimed him as ‘her person’ and the two quickly became inseparable. The bond they shared was unlike any other. He would do anything for her, at any expense, even if it meant sacrificing his own needs or putting their family in debt. Dee’s well-being was a top priority. She was his child and he loved her deeply.
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In 2017, Mathew decided it was time to make a lifelong commitment to Kimberly. He planned a magical trip to Disneyland and proposed in front of the iconic castle on January 21, 2018, surrounded by cheering family and friends. Kimberly happily said yes, and the two were married on September 16, 2019, at the Elks Lodge in Redding.
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Mathew was well known for his love of fast, sporty cars. Over the years, he owned several; beginning with a 2019 Dodge Charger Scat Pack, followed by a jet-black Chevy Corvette, lovingly known at the ‘Mat-mobile’, and eventually trading up to his prized limited-edition ‘serialized’ 2025 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Although each car was unique and special in its own way, they all had one thing in common, his personalized license plate “MATIMUS”, which he proudly displayed on each one.
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After years of dedication and hard work, Mathew and Kimberly achieved their dream of homeownership, purchasing their first home in West Redding in April 2025. Mathew took immense pride in their home, eagerly upgrading every tech feature he could, from voice-activated systems to smart automation. Even yardwork, which he always despised, became a source of pride, because it was ‘his’ yard.
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In 2024, Mathew reached a professional milestone when he secured his dream job as a pharmacy technician with the VA, where he could finally begin building retirement for the future he envisioned. He spent the remainder of his years serving veterans with dedication and care.
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Mathew is survived by his loving wife, Kimberly Curtiss; his mother, Sandra Curtiss; his father, Steven Curtiss; his stepmother, Shawna Curtiss; his siblings, Maegan Smedley, Markus Curtiss, Anthony Curtiss, and Jace Buchanan; his grandmother Vivian Say; his beloved dog, Dee; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins who will forever cherish his memory.
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Mathew will be remembered for the passion he had for video games, airsoft, Magic the Gathering, Batman, building gaming PC’s with precision and care, and the deep love he had for his family, especially Kimberly and Dee. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the life he so thoughtfully created.
