Lois Jean Curtis

Lois Jean Curtis Obituary

Lois Jean Curtis of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away peacefully at 92 years of age in her home on August 19th, 2025. Her daughter Diane and son-in-law Jim were at her bedside.

Lois was particularly blessed to have had a happy and fulfilling childhood. She was born on April 2nd, 1933 in San Antonio, Texas to Avery and Elsie Coppage, one of three children. In her youth Lois spent most of her weekends at her uncle Alfred and aunt Maggie's farm near San Antonio. There she loved the days filled with home cooking, music, swimming, fishing, baseball, board games and cards.

Lois graduated with a 4.0 GPA from Brackenridge High School in San Antonio. She was a majorette in the marching band, enjoying her part in the football halftimes and city parades. She also competed in the Mrs. Texas beauty pageant where she finished as runner-up. In her late 40s, Lois enrolled in online classes through New York University, earning a BA in Business Administration.

Lois met her sweetheart, Paul E. Potter, Sr„ when she was 17. They married and had 2 children- Paul Jr. and Diane (Boutcher). At 20, Lois and her family moved to the Los Angeles CA area where she began her long career in the workforce. She started at Southern California Gas Company and became senior administrative assistant to the manager of the Natural Gas Transmission division. Lois played a major role in keeping the community safe during natural disasters. She worked there for 16 years, earning many rewards. Lois then began a long and successful career at GAO, the legislative general accounting agency for the federal government. During her 22 years there she received the Denver Regional Manager's Award, which was their highest recognition.

After Lois's first marriage ended, she met the love of her life - Paris (Pat) Curtis. They married in 1967and later moved to Rexburg ID, then to Golden CO and finally to Albuquerque NM. Lois possessed an uncanny ability of connecting with just about anyone of any age or background. She had a rare gift of building community wherever she found herself. Lois and Pat had many hobbies such as square dancing, bowling, art and driving their RV around the US and Canada. Lois was a longtime member of the VFW Women's Auxiliary. She was absolutely crazy about playing card games, hosting a weekly luncheon where she and her friends mostly played hand and foot canasta until late at night for over 20 years.

Lois will be remembered for her kindness, generosity and loyalty to friends and family. She will also be remembered for her love of beauty and style, which showed wherever she went. She encouraged everyone to accomplish their personal goals and helped so many of her friends and family toward those goals as best she could. At age 89, after her husband of 54 years died, Lois joined a grief support group at her local Senior Center. There she made new friends who became dear to her heart. They called her 'the Queen".

Lois is survived by her daughter Diane Boutcher (Jim), stepdaughters Tassie Knudsen

(Kurt), Wendy Smith (Dan) and Lynn Desotelle (Darrin), also by stepsons Pat Curtis and Richard Curtis (Juanita). She is survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Lois is also survived by her dear San Antonio cousins Mary Ridgeway, Al Votion (Tammy) and Charles Votion (Susan). She is preceded in death by her husband Paris W. Curtis, her son Paul E, Potter Jr., her parents Avery and Elsie Coppage, sister Marlene Coppage Dean, brother Fred A. Coppage, cousin Maxine (J.O.) Kimrey and several other family members.