Dawn Elizabeth Curtis

Dawn Elizabeth Curtis of Madisonville, TN passed away at UT Hospital. Preceding her in death were her parents: James Randal (Jim) and Lucy Elizabeth (Stewart) Curtis; her grandparents: Arthur Garrett and Reba Rosalee (Hunt) Curtis, Claude Johnson (Ras) and Laura "Mae" (Matoy) Stewart; her great-aunts: Willie Louise (Curtis) Rogers, Myrtle (Curtis) Lynch, Lula Mae (Curtis) Scott, and Thelma Janet (Curtis) Wrinkle; and her great-uncles: Raymond and Winfred Curtis. Also preceding her in death were her aunts: Mary Charles (Stewart) Yates and Lawson Stewart; her uncles: Robert and Tony Curtis, Glen Stewart, and Bill Stewart; her cousins: Jim Yates, and John Stewart; and very special friend Belinda "Bunny" Decker aka "Rabbit". She is survived by her brother: Randy Curtis; her aunts: Barbara (Curtis) McCammon, and Shirlyn (Davis) Stewart; her first cousins: Bobbie (Curtis) Dmitrovich, Kelly Wheeler, Mike Stewart, Sherri (Stewart) Branton, Charles Stewart, William (Bill) Stewart, Jo Ann (Yates) Miles, Jerry Yates, and several second, third and fourth cousins. Special friends also survive her: Teresa (Bruce) Gagnon, Karen Woody; best friend and sidekick, Alma Laher, and a list of other friends and co-workers too large to list here. Dawn was born on August 12, 1959, in Oceanside, San Diego County, California, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendelton. She graduated from Samuel F. B. Morse High School where she was Captain of the JROTC, and a member of the Samuel F. B. Morse Armed Drill Team. She also attended San Diego Mesa College. Dawn held positions with Allison Marine, Alcoa Suzuki, and she was a forty-one-year employee of Sea Ray Boats in Vonore, TN. Dawn was among the "original thirteen" employees hired at the opening of the Sea Ray facility at the Tellico Industrial Park in Vonore, TN. Dawn held positions in the lamination department, quality control department, customer service, and was currently with the engineering department as Bill of Material Technician. She was a dedicated employee of Sea Ray, and she was meticulous in her job. Her absence will be greatly felt by her coworkers and friends. Dawn was a very warm and giving person. She loved to give hugs and neck rubs. She had a big heart, and a passion for genealogy. Dawn and her friend Alma traveled to many libraries, heritage museums, and cemeteries in search of their ancestors. She was always in search of her great-great grandfather's grave or as she called him her "square one". Dawn and Alma finally located the grave in Swain County, North Carolina, but her search and her work did not end. Dawn was an avid genealogist, and very concerned with documenting cemeteries and repairing headstones. She was always willing to assist anyone who was curious about their ancestors, and she helped many. Thank you to all the many friends and coworkers of Dawn who offered support and prayers during the time of her hospitalization. Thanks to the employees at Sea Ray that assisted Dawn during her health event, the staff at Sweetwater Hospital, UT Hospital staff, and to Ann Sweimler. Special thanks to Karen Woody who drove family to and from the hospital, and to Mike Stewart for his intercession for Dawn. We would also like to thank Biereley-Hale Funeral Home for their special care of Dawn. She was always eager to help, generous, and warm hearted. Her absence will leave a large void in the lives of many. But we must take comfort that she is happy now. She is home, back with Daddy and Mom, and her cherished friend Bunny, all whom she missed so very much after they passed away. Funeral 7:00 P.M. Monday, Biereley-Hale Chapel, Rev. Tommy Self officiating. Interment 11:00 AM Tuesday, Mt Zion Cemetery. Family will receive friends 5-7 PM Monday at Biereley-Hale Funeral Home, Madisonville.