Craig Venoy Curtis

Salt Lake City/Aurora, Utah - Our beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather Craig Venoy Curtis passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2025, after braving over a decade of Parkinson’s Disease. Craig was born on June 21, 1943, in Salina, Utah, to Venoy John and Ina Zoy (Aiken) Curtis. He was raised in Aurora on the family ranch where he learned the rewards of hard work. He was active in sports from an early age.

Craig did well in his studies at North Sevier High School and attended the College of Southern Utah (SUU) before serving for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Northern States Mission for two years. After graduating from BYU in 1969, Craig took a management position in banking in southern California, where he met his future wife, a recent convert, in the East Pasadena Ward. Craig married Linda Hollister on June 26, 1970. Their marriage was solemnized in the Manti Utah Temple one year later. They started their family in Anaheim, California. In 1989 they moved to Sandy, Utah. Craig had a talent with numbers in finance and his knowledge and honesty was prized by those he worked for.

Craig was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served with faith and love as a devoted Home Teacher, in many priesthood leadership positions, and as a Temple Worker at Jordan River and Salt Lake City.

Long after he was able to participate in his favorite sports of golf and baseball, he loved to reminisce about the players and details of long past professional games with other enthusiasts. Craig greatly enjoyed participating in several Stake softball and basketball teams. Golfing trips organized by friend and golf buddy, Marti Frustaci, with Ward friends and neighbors were the highlight of his year when he was able to participate.

Craig was the perfect, loving father and husband, and friend to all who knew him. He was a kind and gentle person, a true disciple of Christ. He understood the gospel and was an excellent student of the scriptures. Craig was the heart of his family and will be greatly missed by them and the friends left behind.

Craig is survived by his wife of 54 years, daughters Carol Bennett, UT, and Colleen (Larry) Salzman, CA, sons David Curtis, WI, and Ryan Curtis, ID; brothers-in-law Earle (Sandee) Severance, ID, and Glenn (Judy) Hollister, CA; grandchildren Kyle Schmidt, UT, Skyli (Anthony) Richards, TN, Sophia Salzman, Meghan (Davyn) Bechtold, UT, Ashlee Bennett (Max Pease), UT, Elizabeth (Mike) Brockmann, WI, Bailey (Ally Smith) Curtis, and great-granddaughters Olivia and Elana Smith-Curtis, IL.

Craig was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Venna Z. Severance, in-laws Berk and Edris (Smith) Hollister, brother-in-law Jeffrey Hollister, son-in-law Randy Bennett, and many wonderful aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM with visitation from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. Services to be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Forestview Chapel at 1111 E. Charlton Avenue, Salt Lake City.

Interment to follow at 3:00 P.M. at the Aurora City Cemetery, Aurora, Utah.

Our family would like to thank Home Instead Senior Care – It’s Personal To Us for their staffs’ and caregivers’ years of compassionate service to us and our loved one. Our thanks to our Intermountain Homecare and Hospice team for helping Linda tend to Craig’s comfort for the last several weeks and offering additional serves. We have been sustained also by family, friends, neighbors, and Our Ward family. We love all of you.

In place of flowers please donate to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.