CURTIS, Connie Jean

Connie Jean Curtis was born in Baker City on January 11, 1967. She passed away on February 6, 2014 at Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Baker City with her mother at her side, after a long and valiant battle with Lupus. Connie was born at St. Elizabeth Hospital to Terrance "Terry" Neault and Ardella Curtis. From an early age, Connie struggled with health issues; but she was always a fighter. Connie joined a brother, Chris and two sisters, Sherill and Donna. Having three older siblings to keep up with probably helped in the toughness department, and at home, never a dull moment. As a child, Connie was fearless and adventurous; she lived for the summer and being able to swim in the pool or play baseball. One of her proudest moments was when she won the district hoop shoot contest sponsored by the Elks for her age group; then later on she competed in pool tournaments as well. Connie enjoyed playing pool at the Frontier in Haines and became good friends of the owner, Phyllis. Connie also had a great sense of humor, which really blossomed while in high school. Connie did work for a short time at the Baker Truck Corral. Sadly, it was always her illness that kept her from doing so much of what she truly wanted to do. Her illness spanned her lifetime, with many, many, hospital stays, life flight transports to Boise (of which Connie said she got to fly, but didn't get to enjoy the view or even remember the trip) or trips to Portland to OHSU. During each of these stays, she met and became longtime friends of so many hospital staff. It was during one of the hospital stays in Boise, that she was introduced to a rheumatologist, who determined what Connie had suffered with all of her life, the diagnosis of Lupus. There is not a cure for lupus, but the doctors were able to keep it at bay. This disease, later in her life, began to affect her voice. She found using her phone for texting kept her able to communicate with her friends and family. Her pride and joy was her T-Bird car which she had nearly fully restored before a truck hit her, totaling the car. Connie had a great love of and compassion for animals; Bit and Izzy (Connie had a tattoo of Izzy on her arm) were her treasured little dogs. The people Connie cared about also received that same compassion and love. Connie is survived by her mother, Ardella Curtis; siblings David W. (Chris) Samuelsen of Salt Lake, Antonio (Tony) Rebensdorf of Portland, Rene' Brown of Reno, Nevada; Sherril Corning of Richland; Donna Mae Clemmons of Montana, Shawn Neault, Jodel Neault Johnson, Charmaine Neault all of Portland; Uncle Vernon Neault of Portland; several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Lulu Bryant and William (Bill) Bryant, Napoleon "Posey" Neault and Edith Neault, and father Terrance Neault; several aunts and uncles. Graveside services were held on Friday, June 13, at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City, Oregon. Connie was always so thankful to all of you who prayed for her from coast to coast, there were no words for her gratitude, but wanted you all to know. Those wishing to make memorial contributions in memory of Connie, may do so to help defray the cost of the cemetery marker for Connie, through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services P.O. Box 543, Halfway, Oregon. On line condolences www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com http://www.therconline.com/#!recent-obits/cogc 26 June 2014