It has been a very tough month for a number of reasons, but by far the hardest thing has been losing Matt's dad, our Papa Curt. He has been battling liver failure for two years, and after many ups and downs, hospital visits, physical therapy, improvements, declines, and hope, we had to say goodbye. I truly thought the transplant would come and he would get better, so for me, even after all the sickness, I still felt shocked and very, very sad. The hardest part was that I couldn't see him one last time, or be here to support Matt in those last days. The day Matt's dad passed away, I was burying my Grandma in California. It all seemed to work out so that I can't deny that is where I was supposed to be, but it was hard to feel like I wanted to be both places. I needed to say goodbye to my grandma, and be there for my mom, and luckily Matt was very understanding of that. The logistics worked out so that the meeting where they basically decided it was time to let him come home and quit fighting happened as I was boarding an airplane for California. An ambulance brought him home on Saturday night, and he passed away that Tuesday morning. I flew home that Tuesday night. When Matt is ready he might add some details from those special, but difficult last moments with his dad and his family, to fill in all that I missed, or some thoughts he shared in his talk at the funeral. From my understanding there was a lot of time spent rotating in and out of his bedroom, lots of time together with the family telling stories and looking at pictures, and the kids taking care of themselves downstairs, falling asleep in a heap on the beanbag late at night. I think it was confusing for Matisyn because she loved the time spent with her cousins so much, but everyone was crying and sad, and she knew Papa was very sick. Some days are better than others for Matt, his mom, siblings, me, etc. I really just still can't believe he is gone. We will miss him very much, and I'm so grateful for the things he taught Matt and the legacy he left behind.
There was a viewing on Sunday night (5-5-13) at the funeral home and a funeral at their chapel on Monday, followed by a graveside service and luncheon (5-6-13). I think it was a beautiful celebration of his life. We're so grateful to have so many friends that came to one or both days to show their support for us and to help us say goodbye to Papa Curt. We have quite a few pictures from the day, lots full of tears, it was a very emotional day, but I'll share a few that captured happier faces.
The Viewing
Curtis Thayne Johnson
September 24, 1949 – April 30, 2013
Curtis Thayne Johnson, 63, peacefully passed
away at home on April 30, 2013 from multiple complications secondary to liver
failure while waiting for an organ transplant.
Curtis was born on September 24, 1949. He was the first born of five to Thayne and
Iris Johnson. During his childhood the
family resided in Southern California where he is remembered as being an adventurous
and active child who craved the outdoors.
Thayne and Iris loved taking the children on frequent outings in the
family trailer. Curtis delighted in
being airborne, side by side with his father in the cockpit. He always longed to be a pilot, but the need for
vision correction thwarted him from achieving this dream. Curtis and his dad enjoyed the scenic byways
everywhere they traveled. As a father,
he never missed the dirt road less traveled that took us into the unknown,
where some of the best memories were made.
The family relocated to Utah in the early sixty’s where Curtis found the
mountains irresistible. He summited his
first mountain (Mt. Whitney) as a young teenager and later volunteered on the Mountain
Rescue team as part of the BYU Alpine Club.
Curtis found great joy tinkering with electronics and achieved his
amateur license as a Ham radio operator.
He is remembered for attempting to make his own hang glider, loving
anything to do with water, and for his amazing marksmanship.
Curtis graduated from BY-High and obtained his
Bachelors in Computer Science from Brigham Young University. He enlisted in the United States Army and
served for 2 years before his honorable discharge at the rank of SP5. His polished typing and english skills
influenced the General to “keep Curtis around”, and as a result he was spared
from being deployed overseas.
Curtis was sealed for time and all eternity to
his high school sweet heart, Barbara Jean Babb, in 1970 in the SLC temple. They raised their four children in Pepperell,
Ma. until 1985 when they returned to Provo, Utah. Curtis was recruited after graduation by
Digital Equipment Corporation and then later for Wang Laboratories and
Novell. His sense of adventure then led
him on an entrepreneurial journey with the startup company DISX. He was truly passionate about his final job
as the manager of the American Fork LDS Employment Center where he enthusiastically
coached a team of missionaries to help others find gainful employment.
Curtis was an active member of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was
fondly nicknamed “sound guy”, “Mr. Fix-it”, “Papa Curt” or “BJ” by his ward
family and friends. . He eagerly accepted callings throughout his
life, but his time spent serving the youth was always his favorite. He treasured his time spent with the Young
Women at Camp Shalom and trekking with the boy scouts in the high Uinta’s. Curtis could be called by anyone, anytime,
anywhere and he would be there to get the job done.
We will never forget the countless hours he spent
reading in his big Papa Curt chair and his never ending quest for
knowledge. He believed a spread sheet
analysis should fix ANY problem. He had
a deep love for music and enjoyed listening to his children and grandchildren
practice and perform. We knew when the
ward choir was scheduled to sing, because he would be giddy for days
beforehand. We will miss the popcorn
that he popped in his whirly pop nearly every day, the roar of the lawn mower
at the start of every family gathering and the anticipation of snowfall as an
excuse to fire up the 4-wheelers and attach the plow. He was our resident astrologist, librarian,
weather man, swim coach, “jump or dive” caller, water polo referee, dive judge,
music critic and the best Santa’s helper ever!
Curtis is survived by his wife of 43 years,
Barbara; his four children Michael (Wendy), Rebecca (David) Mullen, Matthew
(Kristin), Megan (Bryan) Hepworth; his siblings Darla Rogers, Terri Lee (Jon)
Burgener, Kevin (Elizabeth) and Brian.
He will be greatly missed by his 13 grandchildren; McKenzie, Chase, KC,
Cassidy, Alexis, Kiersten, Madilynn, David, Matisyn, Sammy, Emilyn, Abigail and
Lucas. There are countless nieces,
nephews, cousins, “adopted” children and grandchildren and his best friend and
ball of fluff, Kizzy that will miss him dearly. He is preceded in death by his parents Harvey
Thayne Johnson and Iris Helen Schlerf.
Funeral
services will be held Monday, May 6, 2013 at
11:00 am at the Provo Sharon East Stake Center, 2400 N. 1060 E. in Provo. Friends may visit with the family Sunday
evening from 6-8 pm at Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 E. 800 N. in Orem and
at the church Monday morning from 9:00-10:45 a.m. Burial will be at East Lawn Memorial Cemetery
Provo, Utah.
In
memory of our husband, father, brother, grandpa, uncle, cousin, neighbor and
friend,
we encourage everyone to give the gift of life
and become an organ donor.
THE NEED IS REAL
Today
117,840 people are waiting for an organ
18
people will die each day waiting for an organ
1
organ donor can save up to 8 lives
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