Linda Ann Curtis

1941 - 2025

Linda Ann Curtis was born September 24, 1941, to Bill and Anabel Corrigan. Her early years were filled with adventure, often moving with her parents to many jobs and mine sites where Bill worked. She was one of four siblings: Bob, Madge, Linda, and Mary. Her father had always wanted to have another boy, so he started calling Linda "Pete," she was his sidekick for many years. She completed most of her schooling in Challis but finished high school in Mud Lake, Idaho, while her father worked at the nuclear site. After high school, she started attending Idaho State University and was a teaching instructor at the Arthur Murray School of Dance. That is where she met her husband, Warren, and they soon married in 1961.

Their first home was in Blackfoot, Idaho, on the edge of the Indian reservation as farmers. That was where Michael and Scott were born, and Warren's son Chuck came and stayed with us in the summer. They moved to Challis in 1968, where Warren was a ranch hand for Linda's grandmother, Ethel Philps. She enjoyed her time on the ranch but was exasperated by all the shenanigans her boys would get into. In 1973, she had Ryan, her youngest son. In the mid-70s, Linda worked with her brother, Bob, to start a general store in Challis to bring various goods from the Boise Valley. She cherished that time with her nephew, Tony Ray Yacamella, as he was her driver and confidant going back and forth to Boise for supplies. They had many adventures trekking through the Galena Summit pass, delivering food and supplies to almost all businesses between Boise and Challis.

Linda had many hobbies, like painting, crafting, and doing her ceramics. But she loved to bowl. She helped us all learn how to bowl and even took a second job at the bowling alley so we could afford to be there. Her 16-year-old grandson, Sam, is one of the top bowlers in the state and is nationally ranked. He has won several scholarship certificates that we know will help him go to college if he so chooses.

Most of the family will never know how she kept her sanity with us three boys. But she loved us all and did anything she could for us! The thing that made her smile the most was her children. She loved her children, but she also loved everyone else's too. All of the cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends were never turned away without a hug or a kiss. When she became the media center director at the grade school, she was also the de facto school nurse. She was one of the first groups of people to become an EMT in the area when they started the program for the local clinic. Everyone came to see her if they had a boo-boo and received a Band-Aid, a hug, or a kiss on the cheek. If anyone needed help, they'd always ask for Linda because she would never hesitate to help. Whether it was cooking the many dinners for Rebecca's funerals or fundraisers, she would also pitch in to clean up. She would never turn anyone down. If anyone missed talking to her about doing something, they would get a hold of Madge, and she would volunteer for Linda.

She lost her husband, Warren, in 1999 to cancer and never remarried. One of her last projects was starting up the Missing Man Memorial golf tournament. It was a fundraiser named on behalf of her husband and Burl Jarvis that was used to pay for the junior golf program in Challis. It was later turned into Challis's First Tee program. She was so proud of that. She loved to play golf and enjoyed her time at the golf course. She enjoyed seeing all of the children having fun there.

Her memory has declined in the past few years, but she always loved to go to the senior center for lunch and to play cards with Madge, Eleanor, and anyone else who would come to play. We hope that that tradition will continue as it was a massive part of the senior population in Challis. If you saw Madge or Linda, the other would be close by as they were together almost daily. They were inseparable, whether it was dinner at Linda's, going out to lunch or dinner, or just playing cards and swapping stories.

She adored her three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Whenever you spoke with her, she wanted an opportunity to tell you about them, which would put her on top of the world. There are way more stories and good times to discuss, but they must be shared at her upcoming service at the Challis Community Event Center on March 1, with a meal to follow. Also, a celebration of life will be conducted in conjunction with the First Tee tournament in July.

She is survived by her Sister, Madge; her sons Michael(Melinda), Scott(Rose Ann), and Ryan(Heidi); her grandchildren Selena, Emily, and Sam; and her great-grandchild Rowan. There are also too many nieces, nephews, and cousins to list, but they are all in her heart.

Linda passed away quietly on February 2, 2025. Her husband, Warren, stepson, Chuck, brother, Bob, sister, Mary, and her parents, Bill and Annabel Corrigan, preceded her in death. Jones & Casey Funeral Home is administering the services. Instead of flowers, please donate to Challis's First Tee program.