Lewis Eugene Curtis

Gene was born July 31, 1926 in Jackson, Teton, Wyoming to Lewis E. Curtis and Vera Frances Parkyn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Alvin Vernon Curtis, and sisters Helen Frances Williams (Max), Ruth Glenn Curtis, and Janet Louise Hooley (Glade).

Gene was a proud descendant of LDS pioneers who left Nauvoo, Il for Utah and homesteaded in Jackson, WY. After his father died, Gene’s family eventually moved to Alexandria, VA where Gene attended Jr. High and High School.

At age 17, his mother’s signature allowed him to enlist in the Marines during WWII. He became a tank commander but tanks were of little use in the sand on Saipan. His unit was the first to enter Nagasaki after the Atom bomb was dropped there. They marched on to Fukuoka and freed the American survivors of the Bataan death march. Those events remained a vivid memory.

Returning to Wyoming, Gene drove an oil tanker for his uncle, then joined the Wyoming Highway Patrol where he retired as a Captain.

He and his wife Mary (Beesley) were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple and raised three daughters in Wyoming, Mary Louise (Michael L Clark), Ruth Ann (Anderson), and Helen Elaine (Brent Zabriskie). Mary died in 1971.

Upon retirement from the Highway Patrol and subsequent 10 years with the Wyoming Department of Revenue, Gene moved to Overton, NV where he met Bernice (Shaw) Lau. They married April 27, 1994 in Salina, Utah. She was ever his bride.

Gene was a post commander of the Moapa Valley VFW and he and Bernice enjoyed traveling together, being part of their RV group until his death. They participated in each other’s family events. Bernice’s children include Marie (Mark Riches), Kathy (Paul Nelson), and Doyle Lau.