Henry Harper Curtis
M 1934 - 2011| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Henry Harper Curtis |
| Born | 1934-05-27 Denver, Denver County, Colorado |
| Gender | M |
| Died | 2011-04-15 Oaklands Ranch, Sedalia, Douglas County, Colorado |
| Buried | Bear Canon Cemetery, Sedalia, Douglas County, Colorado |
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Father | Henry Harper Curtis |
| Mother | Mildred Bean b. (1897, Douglas County, Colorado) |
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Family | Arlene Louise Weimer |
| Married | 1956-00-00 |
| Children |
Notes
May 27, 1934 - April 15, 2011
Henry Harper “Bud” Curtis was born May 27, 1934 at Porter Hospital, Littleton, Colorado to Henry Harper and Ella Mildred (Bean) Curtis. He was raised and lived his entire life on Oaklands Ranch located in the West Plum Creek Valley near Sedalia, Colorado. He died on April 15, 2011 surrounded by his family at Oaklands. He was 76 years old.
Bud was a Rancher. He made it clear by example that his passions were his family, his faith and his ancestral home. Oaklands Ranch was homesteaded in 1871 by Bud’s great grandfather, Henry Harper Curtis. It has been an operating ranch for the past 140 years. Bud’s dedication to preserving the legacy and history of this land was fierce and unwavering. He was universally beloved and his gentle kindness was an inspiration and a comfort to all he met.
Bud is survived by his children, Henry ‘Lad’, Erin, Sean, Kimberly, and their mother Arlene Weimer. He is also survived by his granddaughters, Danielle, Amanda, and Gwendolyn Harper. He will also be missed by a large extended family.
As a child Bud attended the Oaklands School. He graduated from Douglas County High School (class of 1952) and Colorado State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Arts. In 1956 he married Arlene Louise Weimer. Bud served in the Army from 1958-1960. He was stationed in New Jersey and in Texas. During that time his sons Lad and Erin were born. In 1960 the family returned to Colorado and moved permanently to the Ranch. His son Sean and daughter Kimberly were born soon thereafter.
To sustain his family and the ranch Bud balanced his career as an engineer with the numerous responsibilities of a growing family and a working ranch. He was employed as a project engineer for Honeywell, Inc. for more than 30 years. After retiring from Honeywell he took a part time position with David Archer and Associates as a building inspector. He resigned from his inspection duties only 3 weeks prior to his death.
Bud was active in the community as a member and past president of the local Farm Bureau, founding member of the Douglas County Young Farmers and Homemakers Association and supporter of the local 4-H group.
He enjoyed classical and symphonic music, opera and the theatre. Bud often traveled to Denver to enjoy productions and performances.
Faith and religion were fundamentally essential to Bud. He was a devoted member of St. Philip in the Field Episcopal Church, a church his great grandfather help to found and build in 1872. Bud was a key force in guiding and sustaining St. Philip’s Church. His selfless efforts were sometimes unrecognized yet benefited many. Throughout his lifetime he also invested much time and physical energy in support of the Bear Canon Cemetery and Association. In this cemetery his ancestors are buried and he too will be laid to rest.
A memorial service will be held Friday, April 29 at 3:00 PM at St. Philip in the Field Episcopal Church, Sedalia. Memorial donations may be made to Bear Canon Cemetery Association, PO Box 83, Sedalia, CO 80135 and to St. Philip in the Field Episcopal Church, PO Box 142, Sedalia, CO 80135.
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