David William Currie

Currie
David William Currie , 55, of Santa Fe, Texas, passed away on July 26, 2011, with his loving wife and daughter by his side. After a courageous battle, Dave succumbed to renal cell carcinoma. Dave was born December 31, 1955, in Gaylord, Michigan. Inspired by his father's career in the military, Dave enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after graduating from South Side High School in Hookstown, Pennsylvania in 1974 with the dream of becoming an Army aviator. He graduated from the Rotary Wing Aviator Course and became an Army warrant officer in 1975. An exceptional pilot and consummate professional, Dave served tours throughout the U.S. and overseas, including Germany and Korea. Dave quickly rose through the ranks, accumulated over 5000 flying hours, and became one of the first individuals selected for the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5. He graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Management. The love of flying and the military brought Dave and Nancy together. They met at Fort Rucker, Alabama, in 1994 while he was serving as her instructor pilot in the UH-60 (Blackhawk) course. They were married the following year. In 1996, after 22 years of service to his country, Dave retired from the Army and was hired by United Space Alliance at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. At the time of his death, he was an Engineering Manager providing support to the Astronaut Office. Preceding him in death were his father, Leland Currie, and his sister, Diane Shaffer. Dave is survived by his mother, Delores Efram Currie Simmons; his wife, Nancy Decker Currie; his daughter, Stephanie Sherlock; his granddaughter, Corynn Hamilton; sisters, Louann (Tom) Currie Niznik, Sherry Currie Diaz DeLeon; nieces Carla Shaffer, Kayla Niznik; nephews Chris Shaffer and Andrew Niznik. Dave dearly loved the Lord, his family and friends, and enjoyed a very active lifestyle. He was a wonderful husband, devoted father, loyal friend, and a quiet, strong leader who will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him. A celebration of Dave's life will be held on Friday, July 29, at 11:00 am at Clear Creek Community Church, 999 N. Egret Bay Blvd, League City, Texas. In lieu of flowers it was Dave's wish to support advances in kidney cancer research through donations to MD Anderson Cancer Center, Renal Cell Cancer Research, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210. "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" Matthew 25:21