Archie V Curtis

Archie Vail Curtis passed peacefully in his home in Hyrum, Utah on Friday, January 20, 2023. He was 95 years old.

Archie was born June 11, 1927, in Byron, Wyoming to Marks Revere Curtis and Mary Magnolia Curtis (Vail.) He was the sixth of eight children.

He was an adventurous and imaginative child. Once, when asked what he had done all day, he answered that he “had been to China.” He would wake his younger brother and sister in the middle of the night to slide down a snowy hill near their home. His adventurousness came with a toll, as he was often injuring himself. He broke his arm falling off of a flume, and another time got glass in his foot jumping across a canal.

Archie experienced first-hand the hardships of the Great Depression, being raised in a very poor family with 7 other children. He spent one summer with his father, younger sister and brother, all living in a tent while their father was cutting lumber. Archie called it “Camp Creeping Agony.” Archie learned to sew, crochet, knit and embroider during the long, cold winters they– had to keep busy as there was no electricity or radio for entertainment. Archie was a relentless tease. He would tell his younger sister that cream-style corn had worms in it, or that Jello was “throw-up” so that she wouldn’t eat it and he could have her share.

As a young teen, Archie worked in the woodshop at school, where he made a Chinese checkerboard for his mother. In the shop, he severely cut his fingers. His older sisters had him move to California with them for medical treatment. He finished high school while living with his sisters in California.

Following high school, Archie joined the Army – 9 days after Japan announced their surrender. He served for 2 years. Following his army service, he attended Brigham Young University. His freshman year we was in the French club and a modern dance group called “Junior Orchesis”

Archie was a talented dancer, and was awarded a scholarship to the Martha Graham School of Dance in NYC. He wasn’t fond of the New York lifestyle, so he returned home.

Archie would utilize his talents in sewing to make his younger sister gowns, and then accompany her to dances and dance with her. Others would clear the floor to watch them dance. Over the years he taught his nieces and nephews to dance the Cha Cha.

Archie had interesting and varied career opportunities. He worked for a time as a Computer Program Analyst and helped in the development of modern computers and software. He then became a certified Gemologist and worked for many years at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) where he graded and cut precious gems and designed beautiful jewelry. He became an expert in grading pearls. He became a senior GIA instructor, and traveled the world teaching this art (Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia)

Archie married his beloved Janel Anhder on 24 April1971 in the St. George, UT Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was a gospel and scriptural scholar. He served as the Bishop of a Vietnamese Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Van Nuys, CA along with many other callings and responsibilities. He helped develop the genealogy indexing program of the Church and served for many years as an indexer.

Archie was very lovingly cared for the last months of his life by his nephew Lynn Anhder and Lynn’s sweet wife Paulette Anhder with the greatly appreciated support and direction of Intermountain Hospice. His last words were “I love you” to Paulette.

Archie was preceded in death by his parents, Marks and Mary Curtis; his wife, Janel Anhder Curtis; his brothers, Orson, Harold, and Carlyle; and his sisters Mary, Corinne, and Thora. He is survived by his sister, Colleen Bowman (Huntsville, TX) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary and will be held Friday, January 27th at 11 am with a viewing prior from 10-10:45 am at the Hyrum 5th Ward (125 N 400 W in Hyrum, UT). Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.allenmortuaries.com .

The funeral services will be livestreamed and can be viewed via the following link (password: Archie)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86551239770?pwd=aU1XdkozNWJ3SUVTTkxLQ0FZWGlUZz09