D. Curtis Obituary

D. Leon Curtis spent his lifetime helping people in need, taking his ministry on the road in dozens of states throughout his more than 29-year career as a minister for Community of Christ.

Mr. Curtis died on Nov. 24, 2016, in Lawrence, Kan., where he has lived for the past 27 years. A memorial service will be held Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. at University Community of Christ, 1900 University Drive, Lawrence.

Mr. Curtis was born June 17, 1929, in Blue Springs, Mo. He was raised in a farm family. He worked in the Kansas City and Independence area before joining the U.S. Air Force. Those four years included a deployment to Germany. Mr. Curtis was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant. He then worked for AT&T before becoming a full-time minister.

He married Ardith Reynolds in 1950 in Independence, Mo. She survives him in Lawrence. They had five children, all of whom survive: Rebecca Giles (Kevin) of Stillwater, Minn.; Philip Curtis, Jeffrey Curtis and Randall Curtis, all of Lawrence; and Lianna Corteville (Timothy) of Chesterfield, Mo. He also has five grandchildren: Heather Peacock (James) of Columbia Falls, Mont., Harmony MacDonald (James) of Lincoln, Neb., Hillorie Giles-Brauch (Dwayne) of Cottage Grove, Minn., Erin Corteville of Chesterfield, Mo., and Austin Corteville of Chesterfield. Mr. Curtis also is survived by seven great grandchildren.

Mr. Curtis is survived by a brother, George Curtis, Jr., of Kansas City, Mo., and a sister, Mamie Marie Johnson of Kansas City. Three other sisters preceded him in death: Hazel Remington, Elsie Aline Willoughby and Mildred Curtis.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be made to the University Community of Christ memorial fund in Lawrence, the Alzheimer's Research Foundation, or a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.