Kathleen Ann (Johnson) Curtis

Kathleen Ann (Johnson) Curtis – 1953-2021

Kathleen Ann (Johnson) Curtis, 67, of Edinburg, VA, died at her home surrounded by family on January 3, 2021 after a nineteen-year battle with cancer. She was competently assisted by the wonderful people of Blue Ridge Hospice. A recent resident of the valley, she served on the County Planning Commission up until the time of death.

Kathleen was born on February 10, 1953 to Russell and Joan (Murray) Johnson in Sacramento, California and graduated from Luther Burbank High School in 1971. She earned a BS in Business from Rutgers the State University of New Jersey in 2000.

She was married in 1974 to Stephen K. Curtis in Oakland, CA; they had four children. Homes included California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico and finally Northern Virginia prior to coming to Shenandoah County in 2014. Her varied career included mother, business administrator for the Department of Genetics at Rutgers University, an Economic Developer for Otero County New Mexico and assistant to the dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, George Mason University.

Once in Virginia she became an avid beekeeper and was instrumental in the genesis of what became the Mason Honeybee Initiative. She also helped form the Shenandoah County Beekeepers Club and was a leader in establishment of the club apiary at the Seven Bends State Park. The club will honor her service by planting a pollinator tree at the park.

Kathleen was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Woodstock Ward and provided many hours of volunteer service to the membership and others. She also had a love of music and was frequently at the chapel organ on Sunday, at baptisms and funerals.

Kathleen was known for her gift of making people feel special and important.  She was always positive, always smiling, and never dwelled on herself. She was a bright light to anyone who met her.

Kathleen was preceded in death by two children, Lyman and Michael. She is survived by her husband Stephen Curtis; children Kenneth (Nicole Guzman – San Diego, CA) and daughter Shairna (Fairfax, VA); mother, Joan Pine (Carmichael, CA); sisters Terrie Gray, (Richard Gray – Folsom, CA), Michele McGee (Lawrence McGee – Pacifica, CA), Patricia Johnson (Carmichael) and Cynthia Johnson (Portland, OR); grandchildren, Justin, Jared, Marcus, Ethan, and Natalie, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Kathleen will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Stover Funeral Home, 177 North Holliday Street, Strasburg, VA.  The service will be live streamed at the following link  https://boxcast.tv/view/kathleen-curtis-funeral-service-472639

Kathleen will be laid to rest at the East Lawn Elk Grove Memorial Park, Elk Grove, CA, www.eastlawn.com, at the family grave site in early February.

The family has requested in leu of flowers, condolences and remembrances be left on Facebook at Remembering Kathleen Curtis Group or on the Stover Funeral Home website, www.stoverfuneralhome.com. 

Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Strasburg, VA is serving the family of Kathleen Curtis.

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