Patti Curtis Obituary

Patti Morse was born on September 30, 1933 in Denver, Colorado to the union of Jared and Josephine (Freel) Morse. Her father was a prominent Denver architect. During World War II, he was employed by Boeing Airplane Co. of Seattle, Washington. Thus, Patti spent her pre-teen and teen years in Seattle. She attended Roosevelt High School until her senior year. Her father and family returned to Denver in June 1951. Her father joined his brother, Stan, to create the "Morse Architects," a Denver firm. Patti attended South High School her senior year, 1950-51.

In the fall of 1951 Patti attended Colorado University, Boulder, as a freshman. She studied art and architecture and became a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. She returned to CU for the 1952-53 academic school year. At the end of that academic year she decided that college was not "her cup of tea." She returned to Denver and was employed by Garfield-Pasternak Oil Company (1953-1956); one of the original tenants of the new "Mile-High-Center" in downtown Denver.

At CU, Patti met Charles Curtis of Saguache, Colorado. The two carried on a long distance courtship until June 1956. Patti and Charles were married at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Denver on June 16, 1956. Patti and Charles have three children: Catherine "Katie," a nurse at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs; Perry, a Wells Fargo financial advisor in Mission, Texas; and Patrick, a United States Air Force Colonel who is attached to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.

Charles, a 1956 USNA graduate, was commissioned in the USAF and attended pilot training. During their early married life, Patti moved as much as most military dependents move. First, she lived in Mission, Texas while Charles attended primary pilot training. Then she moved to Big Spring, Texas (Webb AFB where Katie was born) and then Chandler, Arizona (Williams AFB). From 1963-67 Charles was assigned to the 23rd TFS in Bitburg, Germany (where Perry was born). Next, she moved to Torrance, California from 1961-63, then the USAFA in Colorado Springs, 1963-1967 (where Pat was born).

From 1967-2014 she lived in Colorado Springs. She served on the board and volunteered for the MVA, Fine Arts Center (FAC). She was a member of Colorado Springs Delta Gamma Alumni where she was the President from 1979-81 and received the Outstanding Alumni Award in 1981. She was a founding committee member of the Delta Gamma sponsored Fine Arts Center Tactile Gallery. Patti served on the Colorado Springs Child Nursery Centers Board (Early Connections) and was the brains behind the annual "Ginger Bread & Jazz" fundraiser, the signature Early Connections event that is now in its 21st year. Patti was an Episcopal Thrift House volunteer and ECW board member. She served on the UCCS Karen Possehl Scholarship Committee for "Unstoppable Women" from 2004-present. For several years she served as a "Step on Guide" at the Broadmoor Hotel. She was an avid reader and focused on the history of the Pikes Peak region.

In addition, Patti was a student of the Civil War. Several of her Morse ancestors were abolitionists and supported and served in the "underground railroad." She was fond of telling the story of her ancestors harboring John Brown in Mound City, Kansas, in between John Brown's raids on slave strongholds in western Missouri. She was a superb interior decorator, an ardent swimmer, and maintained her "fan club" at the downtown Y.

In 2000, she and Charles created the Charles Curtis & Patricia Morse Curtis Private Charitable Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to provide four year scholarships to Colorado high school seniors that wish to pursue a College/University Bachelor's Degree in four years or less. The grantees are selected on the basis of high school grades, extracurricular activities, and community service. In the fourteen years of existence, the foundation has granted over 150 scholarships to graduating Colorado high school seniors.

Patti is survived by her husband of 58 years, Charles; three children: Katie, Perry (Ana Maria), and Patrick (Paige); ten grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Casey; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, located mostly in Colorado.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at Chapel of Our Saviour Episcopal Church, 8 4th Street in Colorado Springs. A reception will follow services in the Parish Hall.

To make a contribution to the Curtis-Morse Foundation, please send funds to The Northstar Bank, 155 Lake Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906, or make a contribution to your favorite charity.

Online Condolences: ShrineOfRemembrance.com