Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, Richard Warren Curtis, Jr. passed away unexpectedly at the young age of 49.
Richard (Richie) was born July 21, 1972, in Tooele, Utah, to Richard and Trudy (Maxfield) Curtis. He graduated from Tooele High in 1990. He had a love and passion for music which was evident in his accomplishments. Richie was drum major for the Tooele High band during his senior year and he received the John Philip Sousa award during his tenure with the band. The highlight for him was having been a part of the Blue Knight Drum and Bugle Corp for two years. He went on to play in the Salt Lake Post Office Band and Honor Band for the state of Utah.
On May 29, 1993, Richard married Heather Story. They went on to build a family and had six children: Mindee Kathleen, Joshua Nathaniel, Elijah Grant, Amanda Clarice, Shelley Elizabeth Louise, and Randall Warren William. They later divorced in 2011.
Richie reconnected with Dawn Marye (Wheeler) and Oct. 15, 2011, married the love of his life, and Oct. 27, 2012, they were sealed for time and all eternity. Through this union, he gained three additional children: Alexandria Mae, Devin Gustavus, and Taylor Marye Carman, whom he loved and cared for tremendously. Richie and Dawn later welcomed Byron James and Gabriel LaMar to their fold. He was an amazing father to his children and tried to help teach and guide them on how to be a better human being. He loved to make them laugh and play tricks on them.
Richard was preceded in death by his children Joshua and infant Curtis; sister Kayla Marie Curtis; grandparents Edna and LaMar Maxfield and Betty and Bernard Curtis; aunts Uvonne (Maxfield) McCarty and DeAnna Maxfield; and uncle Byron Grant Maxfield. He is survived by his wife Dawn; children Mindee (Nic) Costello, Elijah, Alexandria, Amanda (Michael) Journigan, Devin, Shelley, Taylor, Randall, Byron, and Gabriel; granddaughters Kayden Costello, Chassis Costello, and Raevyn Journigan; siblings Jason (Brianna) Curtis and Misty (Brad) Young; parents Richard and Trudy, and several nieces and nephews.
Richie’s family meant everything to him, whether it was by blood or by choice. He will truly be missed by those who knew him. The hole his absence has created can be felt by those left behind.
Services will be held at the Settlement Canyon Pavilion Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at 2 p.m., and will then morph into a celebration of life. Richie was adamant we celebrate his life, rather than mourn his death.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor at Mountain America Credit Union under “In Memory of Richard Curtis Jr.” All proceeds will be donated to Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), an organization which was near and dear to him.