Myrna Curtis

Myrna Ann (DeYoung) Curtis, 83, died peacefully January 4, 2025, at Munson Medical Center. The oldest of seven children, she was born June 25, 1941, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, to Oliver and Lottie DeYoung. She met the love of her life, Tracy Curtis, when she was fourteen. The couple married in June 1959. After brief periods living in Oakland, California, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, they settled permanently in Charlevoix, Michigan, where they raised their four children.

Once her children were all in school, Myrna returned to school herself to obtain her nursing degree and fulfill her passion of caring for children. During her long career she worked in pediatrics and the NICU. 

Myrna loved traveling, on water and land. She and Tracy spent many summer days boating the Great Lakes and Lake Charlevoix. Her grandchildren, nieces and nephews have many stories of boating adventures. She was a roller coaster enthusiast and her annual trips to Cedar Point with a carful of young relatives are legendary. She got out her passport and visited England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Belize, Jamaica, Canada, and Mexico. She was able to visit almost all the 50 U.S. states. One memorable trip took her and Tracy on an Alaskan adventure which included a cruise of the inland passage, visiting Denali National Park, and a bush plane flight to Galana, in the Yukon Territory. She lived in Galana for a year when she was five while her father was working on a project for the Army Corp of Engineers. On her return visit, she laughed that they chose to stay in the Bed and Breakfast that had indoor plumbing. In recent years, she and her sister did many road trips to Texas to visit their brother and his family, to Montana and Colorado, to Florida, Virginia and South Carolina.

Myrna was dedicated to her children, grandchildren and extended family. An accomplished seamstress, she constructed countless Christmas and Easter dresses and magnificent Halloween costumes. Every year, her grandchildren, young nieces and nephews, and godchildren eagerly awaited the custom-made Christmas ornament that magically arrived from Nana/Aunt Myrna. Though she claimed she didn’t know anything about gardening, she was meticulous about her lawn and flower gardens, especially her angel-filled rose garden. There was never a weed that could escape her grasp. 

An affirmed dog lover, whether at home in Charlevoix or on her many travels Myrna would stop to pet every dog she met and chat with its owner. Her grand-dogs would sometimes sneak through the woods for a clandestine visit to Nana’s house. She raised, loved and spoiled many of her own dogs throughout her life, especially Diva-dog Sadie Rose.

Myrna was a wonderful mother, Nana, sister, aunt and friend. She will be greatly missed.

Myrna was preceded in death by her husband, Tracy Curtis; her daughter, Suzanne Jo Curtis; her parents, Oliver and Lottie DeYoung; her father and mother-in-law, Russell and Gertrude Curtis; and her brother, Gary DeYoung. She is survived by her children Tracine (Travis) Hummel; Kathrine Curtis; and Russell (Tobi) Curtis; all of Charlevoix; her grandchildren Gordon Desch, Charlevoix; Molly Desch, Youngstown, Ohio; Matthew Desch, Grand Rapids, Michigan; David Hummel, Charlevoix; Suzanne Curtis, Englewood, Colorado; Lily Curtis, Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Chloe Curtis, Charlevoix; her great-grandchildren Kaylee and Kayden Brennen, Youngstown, Ohio; her sister Charlene Lydick, Charlevoix; her brother Patrick (Nadine) DeYoung, Whitesboro, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place at 1 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at Bethany Lutheran Church (Genesis Church), 11906 Old US 31 Hwy N, Charlevoix, Michigan. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Charlevoix Humane Society.

Arrangements are in the care of the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.

Sign her online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com