Nancy Curtis

Nancy Curtis died at home Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, with her family by her side, after living with cancer the past two years. She was 53.

Nancy was born June 1, 1962, to Hans and LeAna Sacrison. As a young girl she lived all over the western United States, then spent three years in Australia before settling with her folks in the Flathead Valley. Nancy was a Flathead Brave where she became heavily involved in journalism, cheerleading, and tennis. After high school she attended UM and earned both her B.A. and M.A. As a high school Spanish teacher in Malta, Red Lodge and Missoula she, no doubt, touched hundreds of lives. All along the way Nancy made lifelong friends.

In 1991, Nancy went out with Ray Curtis on the last day of the school year and, on the first day of school that fall, they married. Their daughter, Jadi, was born in 1993. Together they shared many adventures: trips to Disneyland, Spain (of course!), Calgary, the Canadian Rockies, San Diego, the homestead in South Dakota, both the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics, the Oregon Coast, the entire Lewis and Clark Trail, LA, and, just three months ago, Seattle. In the past few years, North Carolina, where Jadi attended Elon University, became her favored destination. They went to as many national parks as possible and were especially fond of Yellowstone, Glacier, Shenandoah, Mammoth Caves and Mount Rushmore. Nancy loved staying at the Old Faithful Inn for a weekend. She was happy to have visited Monticello. Along the way they camped amongst bison and elk, hiked, kayaked, looked for birds, and swam. Nancy loved water! Perhaps that is why she took a bath every night! Of all the places she wanted to get to, she had no problem bypassing the cabin to get to the farm. At all of these places she had a camera in hand, earning her the nickname Snapshot.

But her favorite place was home. Nancy was actually a very private person and quite introverted (we call it Finnish!). At home she could relax and be with her husband and daughter, her dogs and cats; she could have a glass of carefully selected wine, experiment with new recipes or settle in with a book. Nancy was a voracious reader. She was a gifted writer as well. And, oh, she had an incredible memory. Damn she was smart! Above all else she wanted to be the best mother and wife that one could possibly be. And she was.

What you really need to know about Nancy, and what she will be remembered for, is her legacy of caring and kindness. She was elegant, yet simple. She was extremely beautiful inside and out. She was admired and loved by many. She never wanted to be courageous but she was. She learned to see the glass as half full. And her faith became bigger than her fear.

Nancy leaves behind Ray; Jadi; her sad, yet very proud parents; a stepson (Tatum) and his family; uncles and cousins.

Services for Nancy will be Sunday, Dec. 27, at 3 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 Brook St., Missoula. A reception will follow. People are asked to bring a memory and or photo to share.

Anyone wishing to send a memorial we suggest a contribution to the Missoula Sentinel High School Key Club, 901 South Ave. W., 59801.


Read Nancy Curtis's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.