Amphitheater High School, Second Grade Teacher, LM Prince ESValette Harer Curtis, second grade teacher
 

Valette Harer Curtis, Teacher          
CURTIS, Valette Harer, 100, died 13 February 2008 at home in Tucson. Her husband A. Ralph Curtis; son, Edward, and grandson, Andrew preceded her in death. She is survived by sons, Henry and Evan "Ted" (Judy), 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grand- children.

She was born 25 April 1907 in Pocatello, Idaho to W. S. Harer and Mary Valette Scarborough, the second of four children. Valette was reared in Boise, ID and La Grande, OR, graduated from Oregon State University 1931, taught high school business education in Sonora, CA 1931-34, married in Albuquerque, NM 1934, and taught second grade in Amphitheater School District from 1946 until her retirement in 1972.

In 1942, she and Ralph purchased a farm along the Rillito River in Tucson and built their home where she resided until her death. Throughout her life she encouraged the pursuit of education. Granddaughter of 1852 Oregon pioneers and Utah-Idaho Mormon handcart pioneers, Valette enjoyed family stories and researched her family genealogy. She was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life and served in various positions. She and Ralph served a mission for the Church in Jamestown, New York, 1972-74.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday 23 February 2008 at the Church at 939 W. Chapala, located near Ina and Oracle. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Perpetual Education Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Published in the Tucson Newspapers on 2/18/2008.
Please visit the Guest Book for Valette Harer Curtis (comments copied below as of 2/24/2008).

 http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?I=GB000103718297
February 23, 2008
    Angel is the highest level in heaven known to my sister. I remain saddened by her loss to us, knowing that she set the highest example to us all and stayed as long as she could. I trust she is now on the right arm, or in it.
       Bob Pomeroy (Bisbee, AZ)
February 21, 2008
    I remember fondly the Curtis family when our family joined the church in 1956 and attended the 2nd ward on Linden. Sweet people and sweet memories.
       Robert Hansberger (Buckeye, AZ)
February 20, 2008
    Mrs. Curtis was my much beloved Second Grade teacher as well as all my siblings'. She was such a treasure to all of us at L. M. Prince Elementary. My brother Robert already said it best. A group of us second grade best friends just recently had a reunion and remembered her warmly. Yep, and we all got to take a trip out to the Curtis farm when it was way out in the boondocks. She will continue to serve as an angel.
       Mary Anne Pomeroy (Savannah, GA)
February 19, 2008
    Among my earliest memories are Sister Curtis directing ,as we sand Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, in the basement of the old Tucson Ward Chapel. There was always the smell of fresh cut flowers.
       Jim Holladay (Cottonwood, AZ)
February 18, 2008
    Dear Henry and Teddy,
My Brother Tom and I value highly your mother's kindness to us when we were children. I am amazed when I think of the countless hours she spent drivng children to sunday school and primary meetings. I can still see the old Chevy clearly in my mind's eye. Both of your parents went out of their way to make us feel included and valued. You can indeed be proud of them.

Randy Holladay
       Randolph Holladay (Salt Lake City, UT)
February 18, 2008
    I grew up next to he Curtis on there farm. We owen Johnsons Egg ranch next door. I remember Mrs Curtis as a very special lady always ready to talk to me.
       tammyjo woolridge (tucson, AZ)
February 18, 2008
    Like Ralph, Sister Curtis was a mainstay when I was growing up. I remember riding to and from church in her big car. It must have been a chevy from the 40's. She was a good woman. My Condolences.
       Tom Holladay (Arlington, VA)
February 18, 2008
    My second grade teacher, who remained a beacon and an inspiration throughout my life. She would send me to the library right after the pledge of allegiance everyday for independent study, and insisted that I be "Robert" instead of "Bobby". She had a way of approaching things on a practical level, of pausing for a moment before she said or did anything, and of couching all that in a kind and loving envelope. One of the finest people I ever knew.
       Bob Pomeroy (Bisbee, AZ)


http://www.zetataualpha.org/content/about/ztaday_order.asp
Vallette Harer Curtis, 100Zeta Tau Alpha
White Violet Charm (75 year charm) – Those members who have been a member for 75 years receive this charm, which is in the shape of the white violet with 75 superimposed upon it.

Zeta Tau Alpha would like to recognize the following women residing in southern Arizona who have been members of our fraternity for 75 or more years.  Each of these women receives a white violet charm of recognition.

Helen Andrews Allen
Helen Estelle Gray
Anita Johnson Cambern
Valette Harer Curtis
Frances Porter English
Fontella Lortz Malley
Mrs Emiline Krucker
Helen T Campbell
Edythe Lund Taylor



http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/fromcomments/199327.php
Festivities launch new Curtis Park

Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson dedicated the Curtis District Park, 2110 W. Curtis Road, and the new improvements to the Flowing Wells District Park on Aug. 25 by throwing out the first pitch to Ellie Towne, Flowing Wells Neighborhood Association and Community Coalition president.
Comments were made by John M. Bernal, the deputy county administrator of public works for Pima County. 

A longtime neighborhood resident, Valette Curtis, was acknowledged during the ceremony. Curtis turned 100 years old this past April and the adjacent road and park were named after her and her husband in recognition of their efforts made in the neighborhood," said John Spiker, a Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation engineer, in an e-mail.

Curtis Park's three fields will be for baseball use only and serve as a home base for the Flowing Wells and Continental little leagues.

Curtis Park, at the northwest corner of Curtis Road and La Cholla Boulevard, shares a connection to the Rillito River Park along the south bank of the Rillito River.


From     MaryAnne Pomeroy '65  [mpomeroy351 AT comcast DOT net]
Date     2008/02/20 Wed PM 10:41:16 EST
To         c DOT jones AT technidigm DOT org
Subject     FW: Guest Book for Valette Harer Curtis

Message: Mrs. Curtis was a much beloved Second Grade teacher at L. M. Prince.

Please visit the Guest Book for Valette Harer Curtis.

 http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?I=GB000103718297

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