Harry was boarding with a family and had insisted to them that skunk meat was good to eat--"very similar to pork and just as tasty!" One day he managed to shoot a skunk but claimed he had 'riled' it before killing it. When the meat was cooked and served, it had a rather strong flavor. But.....according to his own words, our hero declared, "I ate two pieces because I was too stubborn to admit that it didn't taste right."
Harry was not a large man. He was about 5' 9" tall and seldom weighed more than around 140 pounds. He was quite handsome with blue eyes and dark curly hair which had receded considerably before he was 40 years old but did not detract from his good looks.
He ruled his family with an iron hand (and plenty of 'willow tea') note: to mean switches from the willow tree...... His girls did not date until they were of age--and not then if he could have stopped them. Neither the boys nor the girls were allowed to use profane language.
He used to say:
"A gum chewing girl
And a cud chewing cow
There must be a difference
But I don't see how."
He insisted that his children call him 'Papa'. He said that 'Dad' was a disrespectful term. Likewise, the children scarcely knew the words 'Mom' or 'Mommy'. They were required to call her 'Mother'. To this day those are the names used when the children refer to their parents.
Hope's birthday being on the 3rd of July and her Father's on the 5th, they would often celebrate together on the 4th. On the occasion of Hope's 47th birthday and Harry's 81st--the summer before his final illness, Hope returned to Kelso, WA from Seattle to visit. Sitting, talking with her Mother she was surprised to see her Father RUNNING up the street.
"Wherever is Papa going and why is he running?" she asked her Mother. "Oh, he's going to the store for ice cream to go with your cake. He always runs like that. See those steps over there across the highway? (a stairway of nearly 200 steps leading to a higher section of the town) He climbed those last week!" Nettie replied.
Harry was a timid man with little spirit of adventure. Hope took a picture of him standing on the sands of Long Beach, Washington nervously guarding his women folks' shoes and purses. Nettie and Hope had gone with Delleen in her car 'squirreling' on the beach. Harry refused to get back into the car until he was assured that they had finished with 'that foolishness'.
When Harry and Nettie were married some family members said that the marriage would not last more than 6 months due to the difference in their ages. Harry and Nettie were just nine months short of their 50th anniversary when Harry died. Nettie never remarried stating, "I had a good man, That's all I need." (though she did tell Delleen one time when Delleen had brought a gentleman friend to visit: "You'd better marry him 'cause if you don't, I will!")
The words to Harry's favorite song:
There's a dear and precious Book, Tho' it's worn and faded now, Which recalls those happy days of long ago. When I stood at Mother's knee, with her hand upon my brow and I heard her voice in gentle tones and low.
Chorus;
Blessed Book, precious Book, On thy dear old tear-stained leaves I love to look; Thou art sweeter day by day, As I walk the narrow way that leads at last to that bright home above.
As she read the stories o'er, of those mighty men of old, of Joseph and of Daniel and their trials; of little David bold, who became a king at last; of Satan and his many wicked wiles.
Then she read of Jesus' love as He blest the children dear, how He suffered, bled and died upon the tree; Of His heavy load of care, then she dried my flowing tears with her kisses as she said it was for me.
Well, those days are past and gone but their mem'ry lingers still and the dear old Book each day has been my guide; and I seek to do His will as my Mother taught me then, and ever in my heart His words abide.
History of the Curtis Family
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