Curtis Dor (Hot Shot) Curry, 88, of Taylor passed away Friday, May 26, 2023.
Curtis was born Sept. 7, 1934, in Mercury, in a one room wood house with no electricity or water, to James Hiram “Jake” Curry and Vivian Gladys Reynolds.
He grew up in Mercury and Sterling, Oklahoma, with an older brother and a younger sister. Curtis graduated from Sterling High School in 1953, and enlisted in the United States Air Force immediately after graduation.
He served as an Aircraft Navigation Equipment Technician. His assignments included Lackland Air Force Base, Mishima, Japan, Royal Air Force Station, Bentwaters, England, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Taiwan, and Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
He retired in 1974 at the rank of Technical Sargent. His awards include the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, and The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. After retirement he worked at Texas Instruments in Austin and Temple.
Curtis married Rita Pamela Crowe in England in 1961. They had three children, Angela, Richard and Randy. They were divorced in 1987. In 1995, he married Anita Varaile Otto. They lived in Rockport until her death in 2014, and he later moved to Taylor.
He nicknamed himself “Hot Shot” when he was three years old, after he saw a play with a character named Hot Shot. He was more known by that name than his real name.
As a kid, Curtis enjoyed squirrel hunting, fishing, showing animals for FFA and all outdoor activities. Later in life, he enjoyed raising cattle, pigs and cocker spaniels, going to the dog races, selling fireworks and managing and working gun shows. He and Anita traveled many places together, including Las Vegas, New York and Florida. Curtis and his son Rick spent countless hours watching football and discussing the merits of every play. He was always the person everyone called when they needed a car, appliance or any piece of equipment fixed.
Curtis was preceded in death by his parents, James Hiram “Jake” Curry and Vivian Gladys Reynolds; his brother, Morgan Cade Curry; and his son, Richard Mark Curry. He is survived by his daughter, Angela Curry Hartman (David); son, Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Randall Curry (Kezia); granddaughters, Kylie Ledbetter (Justin) and Holli Hartman; sister, Lou Byrd; and numerous nephews.
Burial will be held Thursday, June 8, at 10 a.m. at Coastal Bend Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The American Cancer Society or Austin Pets Alive.
