James Curry

Funeral Service for James L. ?Jim? Curry, 89, of Baker, MT formerly of Ekalaka, MT will be at 1:00 p. m. on Monday, April 13, 2009 in the Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker, MT with Pastor Reba Kolasch officiating. Interment will follow in the Curry Family lot in the Beaver Lodge Cemetery at Ekalaka, MT. Military Rites will be accorded by the Baker American Legion, Fallon Post #35, Ekalaka American Legion Post #60 and Ekalaka VFW Post #7885. Visitation will be 11:00 a. m. until the time of service on Monday, at Stevenson Funeral Home. Jim passed away on Monday, April 6, 2009, at the Fallon Medical Complex in Baker, MT. James Liele Curry was born December 11, 1919 on the family ranch at Bell Tower, south of Ekalaka, Montana. A family friend teased him as a child, calling him ?Hard Winter? because the winter of 1919 was a rough one, but to the rest of his family and friends he was just called Jimmy, or Jim. He was the youngest of the eleven children of Ada May Short Curry and Joseph Carr Curry. He grew up along the banks of Box Elder creek, in the winter riding to school with his brothers and sisters in a horse drawn sleigh and debating who would get off to open gates. He helped his father work the family ranch, and worked as well as a sheepherder, living in a sheep wagon and making great baking powder biscuits. During World War II Jim served in the artillery in the South Pacific where he operated a search light, learned to play the guitar, and developed a great fondness for foxholes. Soon after his return home at the end of the war he went to a Christmas dance, where Jim was introduced by Lute Waterland to Lute?s cousin, Clarice Overn. Jim and Clarice were married September 14, 1946 in Baker and began their life together on the family ranch south of Ekalaka. They loved being part of the Bell Tower community, enjoying, dances, card parties, and spending time with family and friends. But in 1962 they left the country life for the big city lights and moved to Ekalaka, and Jim went to work for the county running a road grader. For many years Jim enjoyed playing guitar in a dance band with his brother Joie, nephew Vince and various friends. At one time the name of the band was the Curry Trio and included Jim, Joie, and Vince and Keith Taylor. In 1967 the family moved to Baker, where Jim went to work running heavy equipment in oilfield construction, and continued in that job until he retired. After retirement, having extra time on his hands, Jim began a new career as a ?pilot?: he worked part time at the city dump for a few years, where he told people to ?pile it here or pile it there. ? He took over the dishwashing duties and kept tabs on and loved to comment on local, state, and world affairs through the Ekalaka Eagle and the Billings Gazette. Due to failing health, Jim moved to the Fallon County Nursing home in 2006. Jim was a great story teller, and until the last few years of his life had a phenomenal memory, filling his stories with detail and humor. He loved rodeo, and attended every show of the rodeo in Baker, including the slack, almost until the end of his life. On his 80th birthday, he was thrilled when his boys treated him to a trip to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, where he found another ??Ekalakan? among the thousands there. Jim had many dear friends and a large and loving family, and they were his greatest joy. He often commented that if he?d known grandchildren were so great he?d have had them first. That love was returned by his family and friends. They already miss him very much. Jim is survived by his wife Clarice, of Baker, five sons: Darrel (Kathy) of Boise ID, Bob of Baker, MT, Tom of Billings, MT, Toby (Joanne) of Sioux Falls, SD, Rich (Dianne) of Missoula, MT, two daughters: Cindy Averett (Harry) of Gillette, WY and Chris Klein of Dickinson, ND as well as 19 grandchildren, 11 and counting great grandchildren, his sister-in-law Marjorie Curry of Ekalaka, and a great many nieces and nephews. Arrangements are under the care of Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker, MT.


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Burial Date: April 13, 2009
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

Funeral Service: Monday, Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home, Baker, MT